IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


V 


// 


w. 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


1^ 


32 


•^   II 
If    1^ 

I:  1^ 


1.8 


U    III  1.6 


P>^ 


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7. 


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V 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

1980 


Technical  Notes  /  Notes  techniques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Physical 
features  of  this  copy  which  may  alter  any  of  the 
images  in  the  reproduction  are  checked  below. 


Q] 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertures  de  couleur 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Certains 
ddfauts  susceptibles  de  nuire  d  la  quality  de  la 
reproduction  sont  notds  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


1 
P 

0 

f 


1 
c 

G 

a 


D 
D 
D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


Tight  binding  (may  cause  shadows  or 
distortion  along  interior  margin)/ 
Reliure  serr6  (peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou 
de  la  distortion  le  long  de  la  mjrge 
int^rieure) 


D 

iZ] 


D 


Coloured  plates/ 
Planches  en  couleur 


Show  through/ 
Transparence 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


T 
fi 
ii 


^ 

it 
u 
b 
f( 


\! 


Additional  comments/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires 


Fold-out  maps,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at  a  different  reduction  ratio 
than  the  rest  of  the  book. 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been 
refilmed  to  ensure  the  best  possible  image. 


Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  bibliographiques 


n 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 
D 


Pagination  incorrect/ 
Erreurs  de  pagination 


Pages  missing/ 
Des  pages  manquent 


□ 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Plates  missing/ 

Des  planches  manquent 


Additional  comments/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires 


D 


Maps  missing/ 

Des  cartes  g^ographiques  manquent 


I 

IS 

la 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche  shall 
contain  the  symbol  —►(meaning  CONTINUED"), 
or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"),  whichever 
applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la  der- 
nidre  image  de  cheque  microifiche,  seion  le  cas: 
le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le  symbole 
V  signifie  "FIN". 


The  original  copy  was  borrowed  from,  and 
filmed  with,  the  kind  consent  of  the  following 
institution: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
gdndrositd  de  I'^tablissement  prdteur 
suivant  : 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Maps  or  plates  too  large  to  be  entirely  included 
in  one  exposure  are  filmed  beginning  in  the 
upper  Inft  hand  corner,  left  to  right  and  top  to 
bottom,  as  many  frames  as  required.  The 
following  diagrams  illustrate  the  method: 


Les  cartes  ou  les  planches  trop  grandes  pour  dtre 
reproduites  en  un  seul  cliche  sont  filmdes  d 
partir  de  Tangle  supdrieure  gauche,  de  gauche  § 
droite  et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Le  diagramme  suivant 
illustre  la  m^thode  : 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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"  Prove  all  things ;  hold  fast  that  which  is  good." 

I.  Thessalonians  v.  20. 


BY 


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J.  WATTS    DE    PEYSTER, 
^J\  -anchor:'  i\ 

lr\     MAJOn-GKNKKAI.   S.   N.  Y.    /^ 

NEW  YORK: 
CHAS.  H.  LUDWIG,  PRINTER,  10  &  12  READE  STREET. 

18SJ2. 


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'iip'iii'iii;i«i.;ir:iH.iiMii,i.,,i.Hi,,,ii„i,i,i,,,i,nin 


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BRIG  -CiEN.    SIR   JOHN    JciHNSON,    HAK  I  . 


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l.ll'B  AM)  MISFURTINHS 


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MILITAR\'  CAREER 


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liriRvGcii.  Sir  Jolin  Joliiisoii,  Bart. 


■•  I.ifi  up  yiiiir  eye>.  and  behold  tliem  that  come  from  the  north  :' 

Jeremiah  xiii.  ;o. 


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J.  WATTS   i.E  PEYSTER. 

yK^    HvT.  Maj.-Genekai.,  s.  n.  y.     yt\ 


N  E  VV    Y  C)  K  K  : 

CHAS.  H,  LUDWIG,  PRINTER,  10  &  13  READE  STREET 

1  s  8  2 . 


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iip:spect  and  affection 

iMis   l.AHOK   1^, 

<•DEDI0/^JlfED4^ 

MY    VENEEAI5LK    FATHER, 

Frederic  tie  S^eijster,  X%.  S.* 

I'HESIDENT   OF   THK    NEvy  YOKK    HISTOKICAt,   SOC'IKTV, 

NEW  YOUK   S(JC1RTY    MliUAUY,   ST.  NI(  11()I,AS   CM;;,   AND,    KOI{MIiKI,Y,  OK 

THE   ST.  NICHOLAS   SOCIETY,    &u.,   &c..    &r . 

With    a    .(rateful     remembrance    of   the   assiduity    with    whn.h,   at 

an  early  aeie,  the  father  uispired  the  son  with   Uterary  tastes 

and    introduced    him    to    the    study    of    history, 

thus  furnishimj  to  him  an    inestimable 

resource    in   trouble  and    a   sure 

solace  amid  many  sorrows. 

^^^)^ 


CoPYUUiHT,  lSf<-,'.  BY  J.  Watts  dk  Pevstki!. 


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PREFACE 


"  Fidelity,  that  neither  Ijrihe  nor  threat 
Can  move  or  warp,  and  f^ratitmle  for  small 
And  trivial  favours,  lasting  as  the  life." 

Cowi'KK,  "  Task." 

Tliere  is  perluips  no  truer  proverb  than  that  which  de- 
clares that  '"whoever  excuses  liimsclf  accuses  lumself." 
There  are  exceptions,  liowever,  to  this  as  well  as  to  every 
other  rule — although,  even  in  the  case  of  this  little  work, 
there  would  have  been  no  necessity  of  explanation  had 
circumstances — as  conceited  niortalitv  vainly  inia<i;ines — 
been  in  reality  under  human  control.  Man,  let  him  deludi; 
himself  as  he  will,  is  anything  but  a  free  agent.  As  Canon 
Charles  Kingsley  makes  one  of  his  characters  sing,  in 
"The  Saint's  Tragedy," 

"  'Tis  Dame  Circimist.UR'c  licks  Nature's  cul)s  into  shape  : 
Tlicn  why  puzzle  and  fret,  plot  and  dream  y 

He  that's  wise  will  just  follow  his  nose, 

Contentedly  tisl:,  while  he  swims  with  the  stream  ; 

'Tis  no  business  ok  ins  w'ltiiiiE  he  goes." 

"^All  around  is  forethought  sure, 
FixKD  wuA,  and  stern  decree. 
Can  the  sailor  move  the  main  '/ 
Will  the  potter  heed  the  day  f 
Mortal !  where  the  spirit  drives, 
Thither  must  the  wheels  obey. 
I— a 


il 


b  Preface. 

"Neither  ask,  nor  fret,  nor  strive  : 
Where  thij  pat?i  is,  thou  shall  go. 
He  who  made  the  streams  of  time, 
Wafts  thee  down  to  iceal  or  woe  !  " 

A  variety  of  causes  delayed  the  preparation  of  the  his- 
torical treatise  assigned  to  the  writer,  as  an  Introduction 
to  Wni.  L  Stone's  "  Orderly  Book  of  Sir  John  Johnson, 
1776-7."  Among  these  impediments  was  the  expectation 
of  receiving  new  facts  from  Europe.  While  thus  delaying, 
Nature  stepped  in  and  demonstrated  that  a  long  series  of 
violations  of  her  laws  —  one  of  them  excessive  metital 
labor — would  terminate  in  the  arrest  of  all  work. 

It  was  at  first  intended  to  furnish  a  complete  and  de- 
tailed narrative  of  the  whole  career  of  Sir  John  Johnson, 
Bart.,  without  limitation  as  to  the  space  recpiired.  Sub- 
sequently a  definite  nundjer  of  pages  was  assigned.  To 
condense  without  ininrv  to  clearness  is  not  onlv  a  rare 
gift,  but  also  a  question  of  severe  labor,  of  time,  and  of 
thought.  One  of  the  most  celebrated  of  English  writers, 
when  asked  to  epitomize  one  of  his  difiusive  works,  in 
order  to  render  it  more  accessible  to  general  readers,  re- 
marked, "I  have  not  time  to  condense."  It  was  also  in- 
tended to  present  in  this  connection  a  reprint  of  a  rare 
little  work,  entitled  "Adventures  of  a  Lady  [Mary  (Watts) 
Johnson,  wife  of  Sir  John  Johnson,  Bart.]  in  the  War  of 
Independence  in  America."  This  little  duodecimo  work 
of  57  pp.  has  a  very  curious  history,  and  is  very  valuable 
as  a  presentation  of  the  traditions  of  the  Johnson  family 
in  regard  to  the  wrongs  inflicted  upon  Lady  Mary  (Watts) 
Johnson,  and  the  sufferings  undergone  by  her  in  making  her 


Preface.  o 

escape  from  the  whigs,  patriots,  or  rebels,  in  her  successful 
attempt  to  rejoin  her  husband,  Sir  John,  witliin  the  royal 
lines  at  New  York,  It  is  the  tratlition  of  the  victim,  as 
opposed  to  the  legends  of  the  victimizers ;  it  is  the  me- 
morial of  the  persecuted,  as  a  set-off  to  the  stories  of  the 
persecutors;  it  is  the  jjroduction  of  a  cultivated  mind,  in 
contrast  to  the  recollections  of  many  received  as  authori- 
ties, among  whom  are  numbered  the  illiterate  depending 
entirely  upon  the  fallible  functions  of  memory. 

This  story  of  Lady  Johnson's  "Adventures"  was 
written  by  Miss  Susan  GrifHtlis  Colpoys — daughter  of 
Admiral  Griffith  Colpoys,  of  the  British  Navy — who  mar- 
ried Colonel  Christopher  Johnson,  V>.  A.,  sixth  son  of  Sir 
John  Johnson,  Bart.  She  was,  consequently,  sister-in- 
law  of  Adam  Gordon  Johnson,  third  Baronet,  son  of  Sir 
John,  and  aunt  of  Sir  William  G.  Johnson,  the  present 
and  fourth  Baronet,  the  grandson  of  Sir  John  Johnson, 
the  second  Baronet.  The  publication  referred  to  was  re- 
ceived, and  the  main  particulars  in  regard  thereto  were 
derived  from  Sir  William  G.  Consequently,  also,  Mrs. 
Col.  Johnson  had  every  opportunity  of  hearing  all  the 
incidents  from  those  most  interested  in  the  occurrences 
and  cognizant  of  the  sad  facts  of  the  case. 

It  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  this  Mrs.  Col.  Chris- 
topher Johnson  who  married  Mr.  Henry  Curwen,  who 
inherited  the  ancestral  abode  of  the  Curwens,  the  historic 
estate  of  "Workington  Hall,"  noted  as  having  been  the 
temporary  residence  or  place  of  detention  of  Mary,  Queen 
of  Scots,  in  1568,  when  she  fled  from  Scotland  after  her 


M.i 


ill 


d  Preface. 

defeat  at  Lan^side,  IHtli  of  June  of  that  jear.  Amoiiii,- 
the  heirlooms  of  tliis  fairiily,  a  portrait  of  Marj  is  pre- 
served, whicli  is  said  to  liave  heen  j)reseiited  by  tlie  queen 
herself  to  Sir  (Kiiiijlit.  not  Baronet)  Henry  Curwen,  then 
master  or  owner  of  Workini>-ton  Hall. 

In  an  address  delivered  by  the  writer  before  the  New 
York  Historical  Society,  on  Tuesday  evening,  tJth  Janu- 
ary, 1880,  the  case  of  Sir  John  Johnson  was  treated  with 
^reat  care,  and  to  this  was  annexed  two  volununous  aj)- 
))endices,  presenting  at  length  (piotations  from  original 
authorities  which  explained  and  bore  out  the  views  ex- 
pressed in  the  paper  itself  These  supplements  likewise 
embraced  accounts  of  the  principal  actions  in  which  Sir 
John  was  second  or  chief  in  ('(.nimand.  Even  to  cite  in 
this  introduction  the  full  titles  of  all  the  works  examined 
would  occupy  more  space  than  could  possibly  be  conceded 
to  such  a  list,  and  the  reader  must  be  content  with  the 
pertinent  remark  of  a  well-known  writer  (James  Freeman 
Clarke)  Mdio  says,  in  his  introduction  to  the  "Legend  of 
Thomas  Didymus,^*'  "I  present  no  list  of  the  auth>  lities 
from  which  my  facts  are  derived,  but  will  merely  say  that 
the  result  of  nmch  study  may  be  sometimes  contained  in 
the  form  given  to  a  single  sentence.""  ,  To  friends  who 
have  interested  themselves  no  thanks  are  sufficient  for 
their  assistance  in  thought,  word  and  deed.  To  Gen. 
Horatio  Rogers,  of  Providence,  li.  1.,  the  diligent  investi- 
gator and  digester  of  the  facts  and  fancies,  the  narratives 
and  traditions  of  the  past ;  to  Col.  T.  Bailey  Myers,  of 
New  York  city,  the  true  friend,  the  generous  and  genial 


, ) 


collector  and  collatoi" ;  to  Mr.  Wni.  L.  iStouc,  the  j>aiiis- 
takiTiii:  and  indcf'atiijable  historian,  to  Wni.  C.  Brvant, 
Esq.,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  the  disinterested  champion  of  the 
\vron<i;ed  and  misrepresented  ;  to  IVfr.  Henrv  A.  Homes,  of 
the  N.  V.  State  Library,  for  much  trouble  and  courtesy, — 
to  these  and  to  others  in  lesser  de<;ree,  but  with  irreat  kind- 
ness, the  warmest  gratitude  is  felt  and  acknowle<lged. 
„      ,.  J.  WAITS  i.K  PEYSTKK. 

Tivoli  P.  ().,  DuclK'Ps  Co.,  N.  Y. 
4tli  -July,  18S2. 

NoTK. — There  are  few  individuals  in  tlic  United  States  wlio  have  the 
prerojrative  of  expressing  an  opinion  on  tlie  causes  and  course  of  the 
Anieriean  Revolution  superior  to  that  of  the  writer.  Lincoln,  in  his 
speech  of  si)eeclies,  at  the  consecration  of  tiic  Soldiers'  Cemetery  at 
Gettysburu;, — an  utterance  declared  by  Enjrlish  critics  to  be  second  only 
to  Scriptural  siinjtlicity  and  sublimity — said  that  the  brave  men  living 
and  dead  wlio  struggled  here — that  is  on  the  battlefield — "  have  conse- 
crated it  far  above  our  power  to  add  or  to  detract :"  "  that  they  gave  the 
last  full  measure  of  devotion"  to  the  cause  that  they  espoused.  The 
writer's  ancestors  and  relatives  "  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion" 
to  the  cause  that  they  deemed  right,  and  that  they  espoused.  They  were 
among  the  most  wealthy  and  the  most  influential  in  the  province  of 
Xew  York.  A  great  great-uncle.  Stei)hen  de  Lancey,  was  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  Executives  who  ever  administered  public  affairs.  His 
brother  was  a  Brigadier-General,  and  common  relatives  iit-ld  conmiis- 
sions  in  the  British  service,  from  general  down  to  cornet.  A  great  uncle, 
.James  de  Lancey,  was  Colonel  of  Light  Horsemen,  comprising  "  the 
Elite  of  the  Colony."  His  daring  enterprises  won  for  him  the  title  of 
"the  Outlaw  of  the  Bronx,"  and  "the  terror  of  the  region,"  "the  debar 
able  ground,"  of  Westchester  County.  A  near  kinsman  and  namesake  was 
Major  of  the  8th  or  King's  Regiment  of  Foot.  He  was  among  the  ear- 
liest officers  to  visit  LakeGeorge ;  he  built  the  first  frame  buildingat  Nia- 
gara Falls  ;  won  tlie  affections  of  whites  and  redskins  on  the  far  lakes  ; 
left  a  work,  styled  "  Miscellanies,"  which  is  a  mine  of  facts  for  histo- 
rians; rose  to  be  colonel  of  his  regiment,  and  of  another,  the  "  Dum- 
Iries  Gentlemen  Volunteers,"  raised  to  resist  French  invasion  ;  is  com 
memotated  in  the  dedication  of  the  "  Poem  on   Life,"  by  a  famonv  pri 


/ 


Preface. 


vatc  in  liis  corps,  the  poet  Burns;  died  ftdl  of  years  and  bonors,  and 
was  buried  with  rites  only  equalled  on  one  other  occasion,  in  the  grave- 
yard of  St.  Michael's  OliUrcli,  lamented  and  revered  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Both  irrandfallwrs  held  royal  rommissions,  the  first  as  the  last  royal 
Recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  other  as  a  c  iptain,  from  17 
to  25,  and  was  severely  vvoundiid,  but  recovered.  Three  great-uncles  by 
blood  were  shot  on  the  battlelield  :  one  killed  ;  another  desperately 
wounded,  losing  a  leg  ;  a  third  I)y  almost  a  miracle  escaping  the  ell'ecta 
of  a  rifle-shot.  Another  great-uncle  by  mirriage,  afterwards  Earl  of  Cas- 
silis,  was  a  cai)tain  in  the  Hritish  navy  ;  a  second  was  Sir  John  Johnson; 
a  third  (James)  was  major,  afterwards  colonel  of  the  Rritish  artillery, 
threatened  by  tin;  mob  with  burial  alive,  and,  escaping  their  rage,  lost 
literary  treasures,  the  accumulation  of  a  lifetime  and  the  n-st  of 
his  accessible  projierly.  The  writer's  great-grandfather.  President  of 
the  King's  Council,  who,  if  the  crown  had  succeeded,  v/as  to  have  been 
the  Lieutenant-(}overnor  and  acting  Governor  of  the  Province — in 
place  of  his  father-in-law,  the  distinguished  Colden — who  had  main- 
tained the  rights  of  the  j)eople  against  military  as8nmi)tion,  narrowly 
escaped  death  at  the  hands  of  the  mob,  left  the  country,  was  attainted, 
had  his  wealth  confiscated  a  year  subsequently  to  his  departure,  died 
an  exile,  straightened  in  means,  and  laid  his  bones  in  a  foreign  grave. 
His  noble  wife  died  of  a  broken  heart.  This  list  of  martyrs  might  be 
greatly  augmented. 

The  same  Loyalty  which  sent  these  men  to  the  front  during  the  Re- 
volution, actuated  their  descendants  during  the  war  of  1812-15.  The 
writer's  fither  and  four  uncles,  iieside  other  relatives  who  were  of  suf- 
ficient age,  were  ail  in  arms  for  the  United  States.  One  cousin,  after- 
wards a  major-general,  the  conqueror  of  New  Mexico  -and  of  Califor- 
nia, died  in  consequence  of  the  aggravation  of  i)olitIcal  rancor,  nay, 
persecution. 

A  kindred  loyalty  to  the  government  t;ent  every  available  relative 
into  the  field  during  the  Slaveholders'  Rebellion,  and  cort  the  lives  of 
five  out  of  six  of  those  nearest  and  dearest.  Loyalty,  when  it  pays 
"the  last  full  measure  of  devotion,"  has  a  right  to  make  itself  heard  ; 
Loyalty  xkiiich  shuns  no  danger  and  fears  no  con.sequence,  is  a  better  in- 
terpreter of  Duty  than  mere  passion  incited  by  prospective  advantages. 
To  risk  the  loss  of  all  is  a  better  proof  of  honesty  than  the  chance  of 
winning  something  in  a  desperate  game.  An:l  it  is  not  only  injustice,  but 
spite  that  would  endeavor  to  attribute  unworthy  motives  to  devotion 
such  as  was  testified  by  those  who  threw  life,  property  and  all  that  men 
hold  dear  into  the  scale,  and  lost  all  from  motives  of  Loyalty  to  Autho- 
rity and  Fidelity  to  the  Flag. 


-r' 


THE    JOHNSON     FAMILY 


OF  THE   MOHAWK  VALLEY* 


(Original  motto  of  Sir  William  Johnson.  Bart.) 


"I  cannot  see,"  observes  a  gentleman  (of  New  York 
■  Wliig  antecedents  and  ancestr}),  at  once  an  historical 
scliolar,  a  practical  soldier  and  an  accomplished  man  of 
business,  "liovvanian  so  formed  and  trnsted  in  himself 
and  his  family  [as  Sir  John  Johnson]  could  have  acted 
differently  than  he  did." 

In  many  respects  the  two  greatest  men  who  adminis- 
tered the  affairs  of  the  colony  or  province,  or,  even  since, 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  M-ere  Lieutenant-Governor, 

*  The  following  genealogy  of  the  Johnson  family  is  compiled  from 
various  sources  :  from  memoranda  furnished  by  the  present  Baronet, 
Sir  William  George  Johnson,  from  Burke's  "  Peerage  and  Baronetage  of 
Great  Britain,  from  Sabine's  "Loyalists  of  the  American  Revolution," 
from  Wm.  L.  Stone's  "Life  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart.,"  &c.,  &c. 


11 


riti    Joint  so  II    Fdiiilh/. 


iU'tijiii'  (ioveriior,  James  dc  Liuiccy,  Jiiid  Sir  William 
.lohiisoii,  P>ai't..  tlu'  '^  Indian  'ramcr''— tlie  CoiU|ii('r<>r  at 
Laki'  (Jcoruc  in  1755,  and  the  Capturor  of  Xiairara  in 
175!^  If  s]>aee  permitted,  it  would  he  a  very  interestint? 
and  au^reeable  task  or  <lnty  to  clear  up  sonu'  historic 
douhts  in  reiiard  to  the  lirst  Sir  William  and  introduce 
illustrations  of  his  al»ility  which  have  never  heeii  ])resented 
to  the  American  puhlic. 

It   is   nuirvellons   what   ridiculous    nonsense   has    been 
published  in  rey:ard  to  tlie  antecedents  and  adventures  of 
this  remarkable  man.     The  following  is  the  literal  truth, 
furnished  from  a  most  authentic  source: 

"The  Hon.  Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart,  in  America, 
was  the  son  of  Christopher  JcJnison,  Esq.,  of  Smith- 
ToMMi,  County  Meath  (Ireland),  a  irentleman  of  great  re- 
pute and  renown,  <lescended  from  a  distinguished  Irish 
family,*  and  of  Anne  Warren,  daughter  of  Michael  War- 
ren, Es(j.,   of  the  same  county,   and    sister  of  Sir   Peter 


*  It;  liiis  Ix'cn  bruited  Hint  orif^niiully  tlU'  I'ainily  iiiunc  Wiis  not  Jolin- 
son,  but  -lausi'ii,  aiul  that  tlic  lirst  who  bore  it  and  sottlod  in  Ireland  was 
a  Hollander,  who,  like  many  of  hiri  countrymen,  went  over  afterwards 
with  William  III.  in  1G9(),  won  lands  and  eslablislud  themselves.  If  this 
report  had  a  ^n'ain  of  truth  in  it,  that  the  name  should  become  angli- 
eised  immediately  would  be  nothing  remarkable,  since  hundreds  of 
similar  and  of  far  greater  transmutations  and  travesties,  some  amount- 
ing to  simple  absolute  translations,  occurred  in  this  Slate  within  a  gene- 
ration after  its  settlement :  the  Feuersteins  l)ccoming  Flints,  the  Muh- 
lers  Millers,  «&c.,  &c..  This  Jausen  story,  however,  is  a  myth,  like 
many  of  the  stupidities  which  are  engendered  by  ignorance  or  started 
through  envy  or  other  like  meannesses  in  illiterate  neighborhoods.  Col. 
Guy  Johnson,  nephew  of  ISir  "William,  always  retained  a  touch  of  the 
brogue.  "His  tongue  bore  evidence  of  his  Irish  extraction"  (Captain 
Snyder,  in  Stone's  " Brant,"  II.  (57. 


TIk'  JolniKon    Juiniih/. 


Ill 


Wurroii,  J\iiiu'lit  of  the  most  Iloiioral)U'  ( )r(k'r  of  the 
I)Uth,  Vico-Adiiiiiiil  in  tlic  liritisli  Navy  uimKt  (ieori^o  II, 
(and  well-known  for  his  c'X|>l()it8 — {inioii^  these  his  co- 
operation with  Sir  William  Pe]>|)ei'ell  in  the  famous  expe- 
(litictu  aii'ainst  Loiiishur^,  the  French  (iihraltar  in  Ainer- 
icu,  in  174')),  and  niece  of  Admiral  Lord  Aylmer,  of  Hal- 
rath,  (bounty  j\[eath,  Ireland. 

"  The  ahove  Christopher  .Johnson  was  son  of  William 
Johnson,  then  called  MacSean  or  MacShane,  a  iceneral  of 
\ery  i;i'eat  iv})ute  and  credit  in  that  i)art  of  Ireland  (coun- 
ty Meath,  whoso  princi])al  I'iver  is  the  I'oyne,  famous 
for  the  victory  of  William  111.  over  flames  II.,  1st  .luly, 
1<)1>0),  and  of  Anne  Fit/.sinnuons,  of  Tallynally.  county  of 
Westmeath.  William  MacSean  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
MacSean  ami  Frances  Fay,  of  the  very  ancient  family  of 
Dorrinai^'anale,  county  Westmeath.  This  Thomas  MacSean 
was  son  of  flohii  (O'Neil),  from  whom  the  MacSeans  of  that 
familv  were  called,  and  was  descended  from  the  Royal 
^Trish)  family  of  Dunu-annon.  County  Tyroiu'.  formerly 
])rinces  of  Ulster  and  monarchs  of  Ireland,  "•  antecedent  to 
Chi'istianity"  and  "before  the  cominii;  of  St.  Patricke." 
The  family  of  Warren  (here  referred  to),  of  Warrentown,  is 
the  head  and  stock  of  several  illustrious  families  of  that 
name  in  Ireland,  and  the  founder  was  one  of  the  princi])al 
followers  of  Earl  Stront!:1)ow  when  he  coutiuered  Ireland, 
11^)9-70.  This  family  of  AVarren  is  descended  in  a  direct 
leijal  line  from  the  ^Iar(|uises  of  Warrene,  in  Xornumdy, 
France. 

According  to  Sir  William  George  Johnson,  Bart.,  there 
9 


1 


IV 


7//'    Johiixoii    I'\(iiiiliJ. 


is  an  t'xci'|iti<»iiiil  lionor  }ittaclK'<l  to  flic  jtiitoiit  of  noliility 
coiif't'iTcd  upon  flu-  tii'st  Sir  AVilliain  iiiid  liis  >()ii.  Sir  .loliii, 
wliieli  is  {iliiM).st  uin>n'('('(li'Mtt'(l  in  Ilritisli  liistorv.  Tlic 
|)at(.'iit  wliicli  i)Oi')>('tiiat('s  tlic  haronctcy  in  this  family  con- 
tains a  clause'  which  u'ivcs  tlic  title  of  *'  Kni<i:ht''  or  ''Sir" 
to  the  eldest  son  on  his  attainiiii;  his  majority,  an  extraor- 
<linarv  clause,  as  knii^hthood  as  a  rule  is  not  hercditurv, 
hut  is  conferred  for  special  sei-vices  and  terminates  with 
the  life  of  the  recipii'iit. 

1.  WILLIAM  JOHNSON",  Ks(i,  (afterwards  Kiiij-lit  and 
M.Mi'oiu't),  w:is  boll!  at  Siiiitli  Town,  County  ]M(\'itli,  Ireland, 
and  snl)SO(|uently  adopted  hy  liis  maternal  undo,  Admiral  Sir 
I'eter  WMrrcn,  K.  II.,  capturer  of  Louisburii-,  tfec,  and  went 
<mt  with  liim  to  North  America,  where  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Colonel  in  the  British  Army,  Major-(Joneral  of  the  Provincial 
Forces  and  (or)  of  the  Militia,  HUh  April,  1783,  and  distin- 
iL^uished  himself  as  a  military  commander  durinc:  the  French 
(American)  War  ( IT. ")4-( }.*>),  and  as  a  negotiator  with  Indian 
tribes.  He  was  created  a  Baronet  -iTth  Nov.,  1755.  In  L7r)(» 
he  received  Ids  commission  as  "  Colonel,  ylf/enf  and  Sole  Snperin- 
tendent  of  idl  tlie  (ijf'aivs  of  tJte  Sh  Notions  ar  I  ot/ier  NortJurn 
/?<^?/f/ns,"  "  with  no  subordination  but  to  Loudon  (Ltmdon  j;')." 
He  died  lltli  July,  1771,  of  chronic  malignant  dysentery,  aged 
r)9,  at  Iiis  seat,  Johnson  Hall,  Tryon  County,  New  York,  leaving 
l>y  Catherine  Wisenberg  [Weissenberg?],  his  wife: 

I.  JOHN,  his  heir. 

II.  Annk,  married  to  Col.  Damkt,  Clauss,  of  North 
America,  and  died  about    I7i>s. 

III.  Makv,  mariied  to  Col,  Guy  Johnson,  and  had  two 
daughters:  1.  Mary,  wife  of  Field  Marshal  Lord 
Clyde,  queller  of  the  East  India  Mutiny,  originally 
Sir  Colin  Campbell,  and  mother  of  Gen.  Sir  Guy  Camp- 
bell ;  '^.  Julia. 


The  Johnson   J")) in  Hi/.  v 

Tlic  soil  mimI  liL'ir  of  Sir  Willl:iiii  .loliiisoii,  I>iirt.: 
II.  SiK  .I()IIN,ofJoliiison  llall,*'rry«)ii  (nttcrwanls  Fulton) 
(■(•iiiify,  N.  Y.,  finally  ot"  Mount  .loluison,  Montn-al :  Colonel  't' 
Il('t;inu'nl  of  Horse  in  tlie  Nortliern  District  of  N*'\v  York,  in 
I77'>;  Major-iteneral  of  the  Militia  beionuing  to  the  same  poi- 
tion  of  the  Province  after  the  decease  of  his  tiithur;  Lieut. -Col. 
coniniamlinij  tlie  Loval  or  Provincial  "Kin'jr's  Uoval  lleyinient 
of  New  York,"  otherwise  "The  (Queen's  Jioyal  New  Yorkers;" 
or  "Johnson's  or  (^ni'di's  Poyal  (iieens;'"  Colonel,  I>,  A.,  :ilst 
Octolter,  rji^ri;  liriufadii'r-CTtneral  of  tin-  Provincial  Trooj>s, 
iSrc,  14th  March,  ITN'i;  Suj)ci'inten(lent-Cu'neral  and   Inspector- 


*  To  lurnish  senic  iilca  of  I  lie  condition  of  insecurity  in  wlilcli 
tiiclohnson  family  lived,  and  tlie  state  of  prepai'ation  ni!iint;iined  ;it  the 
I[ail — tlie  family  liome — a  semi-fortilicalioii,  tlie  followinj;  order,  cojiied 
from  the  oriurinal  hy  Col.  T.  Uailey  Myers,  is  inserted  entire. 

It  was  l)y  a  father  who  was  8o  careful  in  his  instruction,  who  was 
socajialilein  the  liandlinuof  men,  so  conscientious  in  his  laliors,  adminis- 
trative, executive  and  military,  and  so  t'ortuiiale  in  ids  enterprises,  .Sir 
John  Jolinsoii  was  lirouuht  up  and  pre|)ared  (or  tlie  arduous  eareei' 
wiiich  ahsorlied  the  best  portion  of  his  active  lite. 

"  1st.  You  will  keej)  your  Party  sober  and  in  good  order  and  |»re- 
vent  tlieir  haviiiij;  any  uiuiecessary  Intercourse  with  the  Indians  least 
any  difference  nnirlit  arise  lietweeu  them  from  too  niiieh  familiarity. 

!2(l.  If  any  dilferenee  should  arise  hetween  them,  if  the  Indians 
use  any  of  your  |»arty  ill,  1  am  to  he  immediately  ae(|uaiute(l  with  it. 

4th.  Vou  will  in  the  day  time  keep  one  Sentry  on  the  Eminence 
to  the  Northward  of  the  House,  who  upon  secinu'  the  enemy  advance 
is  to  tire  his  jiicce  and  retreat  to  the  F\)ri.  Another  Sentry  to  he  posted 
al  the  (iatc  of  the  Fort  on  the  outside,  who  is  also  to  enter  the  Fort  on 
the  advanced  Sentry  alarminu;  him. 

;kl.  The  Seriieant  to  take  care  that  the  Men's  (Quarters  he  kept 
very  Clean  and  that  they  wash  well  and  freshen  their  Salt  Provisions, 
the  neiilect  of  which  makes  them  subject  to  many  Disorders. 

7th.  In  case  ot  an  attack  the  3  Bastions  to  be  properly  manned 
and  the  2  curtains  also,  there  mi.xiim  some  of  my  Peojile  with  yours. 
The  remainder  of  my  People  to  man  the  l)weliin;.r  House  and  fiij^hl  from 
thence,  makin";  Use  of  the  Four  Wall  Pieces  and  Musquetoons  and  of 
the  windows  titted  for  them. 


VI 


The  Johnso"    Fdiuf'^i. 


(Tt'iicral  of  tlic  Six  Nations  of  Iiitlians  and  tlieir  Confederates, 
of  all  the  Indians  inhabitinsj^  Onr  piovince  of  (2"*^'bec  and  the 
Frontier,  l()th  Se})teinber,  '701  (a  copy  of  Sir  Jolni's  coni- 
niission  is  a])i)ended  as  a  note) ;  *  Colonel-in-Cliief  of  the  six 
IJattalions  of  tlie  Militia  of  the  Eastern  Townships  of  Lo\\ cr 
Canada.     1I<!  was  Knighted  at  St.  James',  London,  'l%\   Nov., 


ill 


Oth.  AVlioncveran  aliirni  isiriven  bytlu'  advanced  Sentry,  you  will 
order  three  Patteroes  [or  Peaeroes,  a  verj'  small  kind  of  caiuion]  im- 
mediately to  he  tired,  that  beinu'  the  siirnal  I  have  iriven  to  the  Mo- 
hawks, and  on  their  approach  neiir  the  Fort,  when  cliallenired,  they  are 
ro  answer  "  Gcori>:e"  as  distinct  as  they  '•an,  then  to  be  admitted  if  prae- 
tieablc. 

5tli.  When  there  are  no  Indians  here  the  Gates  to  be  loeked  al 
s  o'clock  in  y<'  Evening  and  opened  at  Six  in  the  Morning,  tirst  looking 
.ironnd  about  to  see  that  all  is  safe  and  clear,  the  advanced  Sentry  then 
to  be  jiosted  I">ery  Day. 

The  men's  arms  and  ammunition  to  be  kept  in  Good  Order. 
To  Foist  Jounson,  I  am,  Sir, 

Lieut.  August  the  9th,  1756.  Yrs., 

Ai.EXANDEK  TruNBi'ia-.  W.M.  .Johnson. 

N'lri;.— On  llie  lOllmt'  Auyiist  tliu  .Maniuis  (If  Monlcalin.  who  li:ul  succeeded  Baron 
Dieakau  in  eoinniand  of  FiLnch  aruiy,  invcsled  ()>we<;().     On  llie  18tli 
Caii^e  of  llii-      the  garrison,  Shirley  and   Peiipcrell's  reirinient^,  KiOO  men,  evacuated 
ahsonce.  and  retreated  to  tli<'  old  fort  across  the  river,  and  surrendered  on  18th, 

and  both  foris  levelled.  .Johnson  was  at  Albany  on  the  ;J(ith  when  the 
news  arrived,  and  was  sent  by  Ld.  Loudon  w  ith  two  batlalions  of  militia  to  German  Flats 
1(1  siipporl  (ieii.  Webb,  who  'lad  started  from  Albany  for  the  relief  of  the  garrison  two 
days  before  ihc  surrender,  but.  m  receiving  intelligence  of  it.  retreated  with  preciiii- 
tancy  to  Gernian  Flats,  which  ended  Loudoun's  campaign  and  disappointed  and  in- 
censed the  Six  Xalions,  who  looked  for  his  protection,  and  gave  Sir  William  much 
trouble  ;  the  Moliawks  oidy  rt'maining  reliable,  the  others  for  a  time  negotiating  for 
jieacc  with  the  French. 

*Gkn'l  J.  W.  OE  Fevstek,  HiKFALO.  March  30,  1882. 

Deah  Sir  : — I  enclose  copy  of  Sir  ^hn  Johnson's  commission  as 
Sui)erintendent-General  of  Indian  Atfairs.  The  original  is  bound  up 
in  a  collection  of  autographs  and  documents  in  my  possession,  and 
could  not  be  detached  without  mutilation. 

Possibly  this  may  be  of  some  slight  service  to  you. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  AVm.  C.  Bryant. 

[To  wliom  the  Johnson  family  owe  a  heavy  debt  of  gratitude  for 


,♦  ■• 


Tld    JoJiiiKOH    F'lhiihj. 


Vll 


I7<>r).  (On  the  flcath  of  his  tiither,  Sir  William  (I.),  Sir  John 
positively  refused  to  accept  the  succession  to  the  tbrnier\s  dinr- 
iiities  iind  offices  in  coiuiection  with  the  Indians,  and  they  were 
conferred  upon  his  cousin,  Guy  .lohnson,  who  exercised  them 
throughout  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  thus  Sir  John  and 
Col.  Guy  have  often  been  coidbunded,  to  the  disadvantage  of 
Sir  John.  Sabine  says,  "Col.  Guy  Joluison's  intemperate  zeal 
for  liis  royal  master  caused  the  first  affray  in  thiit  [Tryon] 
county.")  Sir  John  married,  .'»Oth  June,  I77;>,  Makv,  daughter 
of  Hon.  John  Watts,  Senior,  Esq.,  sonu;  time  President  of  the 
King's  Council  of  New  Yoi'k,  and  by  her  (who  died  7th  Au- 
gust, 181"))  he  had  issue: 

r.  W^iLMAM,  Lieut-Col., born  177');  man-icd  in  IH():J,Sl"san — 
an  extr..ordinary  beauty — daughter  of  Stej)hen  de  Lan- 


his  noble  defence  of  Sir  .John  .Joliiisoii,  ami  tlie  writer  abiuulant  thanks 
for  information,  ri'iidcrcd  (l(iul)l_v  valuable  by  the  courtesies  attending; 
its  transmission.  .1.  W.  dk  P.) 

GEORGE  H. 

[Great  Seai..] 

George  the  Third,  by  tlic  Grace  of  God  Kinii'  of  Great  Britain, 
France  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  tlie  Faith,  *tc.  To  our  trusty  and 
well-beloved  Sir  Jolni  .Johnson,  Bart.,  Greetinix:  We  rei)osin{>'  especial 
Trust  and  Confidence  in  your  Loyalty,  Fidelity  and  Ability  do  by  these 
{'resents  constitute  and  ajtpoint  yon  to  l)e  Superintemlent  General  and 
lnsi)ector  General  of  our  Faitliinl  Subjects  and  Allies,  tlie  Six  United 
\ations  of  Indians  and  their  Confederates,  and  of  their  Affairs,  and 
also  of  our  faithful  Allies  the  Indians  inhabitinii:  Our  Provinces  of 
l'pj)er  Canada  and  Lower  Canada,  in  America,  and  the  frontiers  of  our 
>aid  Provinces,  and  of  their  affairs  :  And  you  are  to  ol)serveand  follow 
suc)i  (Jrders  and  Directions  as  you  shall  receive  from  Our  Commander 
in  Chief  of  Our  Forces  in  Our  said  Provinces  of  Upper  Canada  and 
bower  Canada,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence,  from  tlie  OHiccr  who  may  lie 
left  In  the  Command  of  the  said  Forces  for  the  'f  imc  beinn. 

Given  at  Our  Court  at  St.  James's,  the  Sixteenth  day  of  Septem- 
l)er,  171)1,  In  the  Thirty  First  Year  of  Our  r{<'i<rn. 

By  His  Majesty's  Connnand, 

IIknkv  DrxDAs. 


Vlll 


1   ft 


II. 
III. 

IV. 

\ . 

VI. 


VI 


T/ti   Johnsoh   Foriiibj. 

cey,  Governor  of  Tobago,  and  sister  of  Sir  William  .le 
Lanccy,  K.C.B.,  "Qunrtcrmastor-Gcneral  of  Welling- 
ton's army,"  killed  at  Waterloo;  and  <lied  1«12,  leay- 
i„.r  by  her  (who  married  secondly,  1815,  General  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  K.C.B.,  and  died  ls:}r>)  three  daughters : 

1.  Charlotte,  married  in  18:20,  Alexander  Count 
Balmain,  lilissiun  Commissioner  at  St.  Helena, 
and  died  in  1824. 

2.  Mary,  died  unmarried  in  1814. 
\\.  Susan,  died  unmarried  in  1^28. 

Adam  Goudox,  Hid  Baronet. 

.Iamks  Stki'iikn,  Captiiin  r>8th  Regiment,  killed  at 
Badajoz,  born  in  1785. 

lloHEKT  Thomas,  drowned  in  Canada  in  lSl->. 

Wakkkn,  Major  OKth  Regiment,  died  I8l:5. 

John  of  Point  Oliver,  Montreal,  Col.  Com  g  Oth  Bat- 
talion of  :Militia,born  Sth  August ;  17sr>,  married  10th 
February,  1^25,  i\[ary  Diana,  daughter  of  Richard 
Dillon,  Esq.,  of  .Alontreal,  and  died  2:3d  June,  1841, 

leaving  issue : 

1.  William    Gkoi;«4K,  successor  to  lus  uncle,   and 

present  (in  1^82)  Baronet. 

2.  Ciiaulks,  Captain    INIadras  Artillery,   born    4th 

February,  18:»o. 
;;.  J  AMI'S    Stki'iien,   Lieut.    14th    Foot,    born    5th 

March,  18:}C);  killed  at  Barbadoes. 
4.  AitoiiiuALi)  Kknnedy,  born  20th  June,  1^:5!». 

1.  i\lAitiA  Diana. 

2.  Anne  Maikiaukt. 
:],  Ei-i/A  Tmkiiksa. 
4.  Ma  in    Annk. 

VII  CuAKLKs  CiunsTorHKK,  of  Argcnteuil,  Canada  East, 
born  2«.)th  Oct.-ber,  llOS  :  Lieut.-Col.  in  the  Army; 
Kni<-ht  of  the  second  class  of  the  Persian  Order  of  the 
Lion  and  Sun;  married   1818,  Susan,  eldest  daughter 


j!      I.' 


Tltr  ■/()h)is<>ii   Ka/iilly. 


IX 


of  Adiiiir.'il    Sir    Edward    Giiftiths,   of    Xorthbrook 
IIousi',  Hants  (Jl:iiii|ishiro)   (who  took  the  surname  of 
C'olpoys),  and  died  .'JOth  Sci)teniber,  isr)4,  leaving: 
1.  William,    an   officer   in    riOth    Regiment,   born 

'~>Sth  May,   1821,  deceased. 
'I.  John  Okmshy,  Captahi  Royal  Xavy ;  born  lUh 

August,  ^xil'l. 
;J.  CiiAKLKs  TiiKHAM),  born    17th  .June,  1825,  de- 
ceased. 
4.  EmvARi)  CV)LPOYs,  born    lltli  August,   1855,  an 
officer  in  the  Army, 

1.  Uwiw  J^owKs,  married,  18th  June,  18(57,  Rev. 

Wni.  IJcIl  Cin-istian,  of  p]wanrigg  Hall,  Cum- 
berland, and  JMilntown,  Isle  of  AFan. 

2.  Mauv  Anxk  SisAX. 

VIII.  Akciiibali)  Kenxkdy,  born  in  I7i»2,  married,  l.'Jth  Sep- 
tember, 1818,  Maria  Johnson,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Langan,  Esq.,  of  ^Montreal,  died  8th  October,  186G. 

1.  AxNE,  married  to  Col.  Edward  Macdonnell,  De- 

puty Quartermaster  General  to  the  Forces  in 
Canada,  who  died  in  1812. 

2.  Catiiakink  Makia,  one  of  the  loveliest,  wisest  and 

best   of  women,  married   in   1805  to  Major- 
(leneral  Harxahd  Fooiid  Bowks,  an  officer  of 
unusual  ability  and  intrepidity,  who  fell  in  the 
attack  upon  the  forts  at  Salamanca,  23d  June, 
1 8 1 2.(    See  Harper's  "/^lison,"  HI.,  470  (2)  and 
note  t,  ami  other  authorities  on  the  War  in 
Spain).     She  died  at  Anglesey,  near  (iosport, 
F^ngland,  in  1850. 
;i.  Mai{ia>  ,k,  died  1st  January,  1808. 
Sir  John,  died  4tli  January,  1830,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  surviving  son, 

HI.  Sir  Adam  Gordox,  Lieut.-Col.  of  the  6th  Battalion  of 
Militia,  born  6th  May,  1781;  who  died   unmarried  2 1st  May. 


n 


X  The  Johnson    Funaly. 

1843,  and  was  succeeded    hy  liis  nephew,  William   (4kor(ji:, 
tlie  present  (188:i)  Baronet. 

IV.  SiuWii.r.iAM  (TE()K(iK  JoiiNsox,  of  Twickenham,  Coun- 
ty of  ]\liddlesex,  P^ngland,  was  g-raduated  at  ^Yoolwic•h,  and 
lor  the  best  jiortion  ol  Ins  life  lield  a  comniission  in  the  l^ritish 
iVrniy  as  Captain  of  Artillery,  and  acted,  in  the  discharge  of  va- 
rious staff  duties,  at  different  posts,  and  once  upon  the  Island  of 
St.  Helena;  born  lOtli  Decend)er,  18;J0;  succeeded  as  IV.  Baro- 
net at  the  decease  of  his  uncle,  in  May,  184o. 

Au.Ms. — Aro-ent,  two  lions  counter-rampant,  supporting  a 
dexter  hand  gules;  in  chief,  three  estoilles  of  the  last,  and  in 
has,  a  salmon  naiant  in  water,  proper. 

CiiKsT. — An  arm,  gules,  encircled  with  a  ducal  crown,  Or^  the 
hand  grasping  a  sword,  proper,  poliuird  and  hilt.  Or. 

Morro. — "iV<'c  aspera  terrentr  '■'•  Difficulties  do  not  stop 
{or  deter)  or  disnunj.""     "  Boldness  Wixs." 

Sir  John  Johnson,  might  have  exclaimed,  in  the  words  of 
Dryden  : 

"Fortune  came  smiling  to  my  youth,  and  woo'd  it. 
And  purpl'd  u-reutncss  mot  my  ripon'd  years. 
When  first  I  canu'  to  empire,  I  was  borne. 
On  tides  of  people  crowding'  to  my  triumph  : 
The  wish  of  nations,  and  the  willing  world 
Ueceiv'd  me  as  its  pledge  of  future  peace. 
1  was  so  great,  so  happy,  so  belov'd, 
Fate  could  not  ruin  me,  'til  I  took  i)ains, 
And  work'd  against  my  fortune  ;  chid  her  from  nu", 
And  turn'd  her  loose,  yet  still  she  came  again. 
My  careless  days,  and  my  luxurious  nights. 
At  length  have  wearied  her ;  and  now  she's  gone. 
****** 
Oh  !  I  am  now  so  sunk  from  what  I  was, 
Thou  find'st  me  at  my  low-water  mark  : 
The  rivers  tha*  ran  in,  and  rais'd  my  fortunes. 
Are  all  dried  up,  or  take  another  course. 
What  I  have  left  is  from  my  native  spring  ; 
Pve  still  a  heart  that  swells  in  scorn  of  fate.'" 


il 


I:, 'I 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION. 


•■  ( »iir  kniiwledjif  nf  thf  rmiiro  |  iS'ii — 5],  can  only  lie  u  copy  iif  the  pa^l  [1773   ■'.3I  " 

I'll.    UlROl's    "  Pisiilses  i>/'  \teilhn  y." 

Ciesar. — "'  N  oil  must,  oliey  wliat  all  ohey,  the  rule 

Of  fix'd  necessity  '.  ai;aiii>t  her  eilict 

Kehcllicm  prospers  not." 
.linfl/d, —  ".\n(l  when  it  prospers- 

Cifiiir. — ■■  '   lis  no  rehellion." 

■*  *  *  + 

/'/il7ii'i-rr. —  '■  How  now.  fellow  I 

Thou  wa.vest  insolent,  heyind  the  (irivilege 

Of  a  hiitToon." 
Cipsiif. — ■■  Vou  mean,  1  speak  the  truth. 

I'll  lie — it  is  as  easy  ;  then  you'll  praise  lue 

I'or  calling  you  a  hero." 

K\Ros'^  " Pr/'(ir)iif(i  '/'yan.\-/('fiih;i."    \(  t  I.,  >i  one  II 

I'osselt,  in  his  ■'  History  of  (iustavus   111.,  of  Sweden,"  after  mentioning  that  he  h.is 
hai   a  numher  of  manuscripts  communicated  to  him  hy  a  high  and  competent  authority, 
>ays,  "  the  author,  although  he   fully  .i^rees  in  opinion  with   the  writer  (of  these  manu 
scripts),  will  not  communicate  them  to  the  jiuhlic,  hecause  t/if  wot  Id  '^vill  iicit/irr  h>a> 
nor  bflu'7'r  the  siiii/>/r  t>nt/i^  hut  ~vis/irs  to  he  Jecei'.'ed." 

ScHLo.ssKU,  '^llistoi-y  of  the  .\V.\'.  (  entii    :  ."  I\  .,  j42. 

".\  woiulerful  and  horrihle  tiling  is  committed  in  the  land  ;  the  prophets  prophesy 
f.ilsely,  and  the  priests  hear  rule  hy  their  means  ;  and  my  people  love  to  have  it  so  :  and 
what  will  ye  do  in  the  end  thereof."  Jknrmi.mi  V.,  30.  (i. 

TIktc  was  rt  ii'reater  and  a  tiiior  display  of  Lovulty  lo 
tlie  Govcniinent,  tliat  is,  to  tlio  Union  and  to  tlio  Ha^-, 
in  18(11.  ten  times  over,  than  of  ))atriotisni  or  whatever  it 
may  I)e  said  to  i-e}>resent.  to  the  cause  of  Liberty  and 
Independence,  that  is  to  the  Confederated  (\)lonles,  in 
8— .\i 


J 


\ii 


Ilhtoricid   Iiitri>(/ uctioii. 


',  t 


'<i 


ITTo-t*.  In  ls«!l  tluMv  was  ji  universal  i)(»i)ular  fervor  iit 
the  Nortli,  totally  (lisinterested — an  uprising- ofthe  people.* 
In  17T5-*;,  as  a  national  t'eelini;-,  it  was  exactly  tlie  reverse. 
There  were  more  native  Amerieans  in  tlie  course  of  tlie 
war  ill  till'  r)ritisli  service  than  WashiiijU'ton  ever  had  to- 
irether,  regulars  and  irre<i:ulars,  under  the  hiirhest  i)res- 
sure  of  voluntary  an<l  conijmlsory  service. 

Loren/.o  Sahiue  deinonstrates  this,  aiul  the  followinii; 
letter  is  too  pertinent  and  coi-rohorative  to  he  omitted.  It 
is  from  the  ]tcn  of  a  very  ahle  Federal  general,  and  one  of 
the  most  retlectinii'  nii'ii  of  this  j^eneration,  who  is  like- 
wise a  collateral  relation  of  one  <.f  the  most  j.ronnneiit 
Coiitiueiital  i^^enerals.      Ju  it  the  writer  says: 

''The  more  I  rciul  and  understiniJ  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, the  more  T  wonder  at  our  success.  I  doubt  if  there  were 
more  than  two  States  decidedly  whio- — ^Massachusetts  and  Vir- 
uinia.  Massachusetts  (morally)  overlai)i»ed  New  Hampshire — 
and  the  northern  part  of  Rliode  Island— and  <1  ragged  them 
after  her.  [These  seemed  to  realize  the  dependence  of  the 
Second  Jager  in  Schiller's  "  W<tl/>nsfehi'ft   Lrt;/n\'  or  camp— 

"  Freedom  must  ever  with  niisrht  entwine, 
I  live  and  will  die  by  Wallenstein."] 

The  Massachusetts  people  were  Aryan  (by  race),  witli  a  strong 
injection  of  Jewish  (instincts).  The  })opu]ation  of  Southern 
Rhode  Island  and  Comiecticut  were  divided— more  loyal  than 

*  There  was  more  patriotism  shown  at  the  North,  among  all  classes 
and  conditions  of  men,  during  the  first  two  years  of  the  "  Slaveholders' 
Hehellion"  than  has  ever  been  exhibited,  spontaneously,  by  any  people 
ill  the  world— far  more  than  durijig  tlie  American  Hevolution.  Tlie 
Loyalists  of  18(51-2  took  up  arms  for  their  colors  and  country  and  for 
eonscience— for  principle  ;  so  did  the  Loyalists  of  1775-6. 


Hintoi'trnl    In troi/nction . 


Mil 


Uclti'l.  New  York  was  Tory.  New  Jersey — eastern  part  t"<>l- 
l«»\ve<l  \e\\  York,  western  part  Pennsylvania.  Pennsylvania 
was  Tory,  Maryland  was  divided;  Xortli  Carolina  partly  i'ol- 
lowed  lier,  jtartly  Soutli  CJarolina.  South  Carolina  had  many 
Tories.  (ieorLria  followed  South  Carolina.  Two  j»arties  con- 
stituted tlie  strength  of  the  Whigs — the  Denioeratic  Conunnn- 
ists  of  Massachusetts  and  wherever  theii'  organization  exteinled 
and  the  (Provincial)  aristocracy  of  Virginia,  which  was  loyal 
to  the  King  ])ut  would  not  bend  to  the  aristocratic  Parliament. 
The  Scotch  (Protestant  not  l*a])ist)  Irish  in  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  North  C'arolitia  were  llelx'ls  to  tlie  l)ackl)one.  The 
Dutch  I'ainilies  in  New  Y^^rk  [not  in  authority],  the  Huguenots 
in  South  Carolina,  likewise.  The  Church  party,  the  Germans, 
the  Catholic  Ii'ish  and  the  Quakers  were  I^tjyalists.  The  Dis- 
senters evervwhenf  were  llebels."  . 


Without  the  active  assistance  <»f  France  and  .Spain,  and 
the  silent  inliueiKH;  of  otlior  powers,  jealous  or  envious  or 
inimical  to  (treat  JJritaiii,  the  achievement  of  American 
Independence  would  iiave  been  an  impossiltility.  NVln-n 
the  goal  M'as  readied  how  did  the  Confederate*!  Colonies, 
transmute<l  into  the  United  States,  show  their  gratitude 
to  France  and  Spain  ^ 

Again,  there  was  more  honesty,  mercy,  magnanimity, 
more  charity  or  pliilanthropy  manifested  t«i  the  Rebels  in 
1865,  than  to  their  brethieii,  if  tliey  were  so  in  fact,  by  the 
Colonial  authorities  in  17S2-ii.  The  Dnke  of  Alva  was 
scarcely  more  cruel  for  his  race,  day,  prejiulices  and 
opportimities  than  the  authorities  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  for  their  blood  and  their  era.  Not  one  sentence  of 
this  introduction  is  written  to  uphold  Great  Britain.  P^veii 
accei»ting  Lecky's   depreciatory  estimate   of  George  II J, 


!l  ! 


XIV 


Illntov'ic<ll    liiti'0<ll«!tlon . 


!l 


and  liis  ministry,  iiotliinix  can  cxcn^c  tlio  aninnis  wliicli 
jH'rnu'atos  the  onactnients  of  TS\'W  York  apiinst  the  r.«)yal- 
ists,  stiirniatizod  as  Tories,  who  were  certainly  as  lionest 
and  selt'-saeritieinii:  in  their  convictions  as  their  oi»]»onents. 

Tlie  iii.risinir  of  ls<;i  settled  the  interi)retation  or 
detinition  of  Loyality— Fealty  to  the  Government  and 
Fidelity  to  the  F'hiir!  If  there  was  anv  man  in  the 
Colonies  wlio  was  a  decided  enemy  to  tlie  Crown  it  was 
.lolin  Adams,  and  yet  lie  it  was  who  declared,  or  rather 
wrote  these  I'eiriarkahle  words; 

"  For  my  own  part  there  was  not  a  moment  durin<^  the 
Kevolution  wlien  I  woidd  not  liave  ,i;-ivei»  anything  I 
p(»ssessed  for  a  restoration  to  the  state  t)f  tilings  before  the 
contest  began,  provided  -we  conld  have  a  snfHcient  secnrity 
for  its  continnance." 

The  idea  thns  expressed  by  John  Adams  with  the  pen, 
was  nothing  more  than  Sir  John  Johnson  wrote  in  fiercer 
colors  with  the  sword,  at  the  sacrifice  of  such  a  magnificent 
property  that  John  x\dams  would  have  regarded  a  portion 
of  it  as  an  elegant  competency. 

Wliat  have  Native  Americans  gained  by  all  that  has 
been  undergone?  AVould  their  leaders  have  taken  the 
stand  that  they  did,  if  they  could  have  looked  forward 
and  foreseen  the  present  condition  of  things^  Is  material 
prosperity  the  highest  good  't  The  wish  has  been  attributed 
to  .Fefierson,  the  "Apostle  of  Democracy?"  that  an  ocean 
of  fire  rolled  between  his  coimtry  and  the  old  WMjrld,  to  pre- 
serve it  from  the  evils  of  emigration.  B'oreigners  in  a 
irreat  measure  eniriueered  the  American  Eevolution.     How 


i 


11 1  xi  or  I  fit  I     I  iif  I'nd  nrhtm. 


XV 


many  ti'iuri'd  at  tlic  licad  of  <>ui-  aniiios  ^  IIow  many 
iiiMiU'ii('(Ml  tlic  resolutions  of  Coiiijrcss  ^  ( )f  twcntv-ciirlit 
active  major-ii'enerals — tliere  \veri'  tliirty.  l)nt  one  re- 
siirned  'l'M\  April,  lT7«i,  and  one  was  j-etired  in  177H — 
eleven  were  foreiirners,  and  toni"  had  leai'ned  their  tra<les. 
in  the  British  service.  Throwinir  o\it  thosi'  who  were 
promoted,  of  the  fifty-five  hriiradiers,  l»etwi'en  ITT.'i  and  tlu' 
close  of  the  war  in  1  TSii.  twelve  wei'e  forei<;ners. 

The  two  cliief  aii'ents  of  independence  were  Henjamiii 
Franklin  and  Thomas  Paine.  The  fii'st  was  an  accidental 
American,  just  l)orn  in  this  counti'v,  and  tlu'  latter  an 
Fn^lishman. 

Indi^■i(hlal  riirlits  ai'e  more  res])ected  and  reirai'dcfl  tt)- 
day  in  Great  Britain,  and  the  law  is  held  in  more  rever- 
ence tliere  tluin  in  the  l>nited  States.  \\<tw^  license  dictates 
tlie  laws  and  a  res]»ectal)le  minority  has  t(^  sntfer  and  suc- 
cumb. Tliere  is  no  law  hut  j)ul)lic  o])inion.  riirht  or  wrouijr, 
and  the  atrocious  inHuence  of  political  <;reed  and  <!:raspinii^ 
mo- opoly.  Is  that  worse  than  a  royal  will.  temj>ered  by 
a  cftnstitutional  representation  t 

The  atmosphere  breathed  by  so  many  of  the  prominent 
American  fanulies  of  New  York  was  surcharged  with  Loy- 
jdty  and  Fidelity  to  a  rii;:litful  Prince.  Whether  the  idea  was 
wise  or  foolish,  right  or  wrong,  nothing  was  considered  as 
much  a  man's  personal  duty  as  the  maintenance  of  his  honor. 
The  young  and  charming  Lord  James  Radcliife,  Earl  of 
Derwent water,  the  idol   of  the  .Jacobites,  was  beheaded* 


( 


*"LoKD   Dkkwentw  AT  Kit's    LiGiiTs. — There   have  heen   sevenil 
wonderful  and  most  unusual  displays  of  aurora  horealis  in  England 


XVI 


1/lHtoriaal  In  trnthirtloi) . 


24tli  l"\'liniai'v,  17H>  ;  tliut  is,  on  tin"  vci-v  day,  it  is 
claiiiKMl  l»y  Col.  T.  liaiU'V  Afwi-s,  that  Sir  Wi'liaiii  .luliii- 
80II  was  l)orn,  and  tlic  wild  tri-Nor  of  .lacoUitc  Loyalty  was 
still  alive  \\lK'n  Sir  .loliii  was  a  hoy.  T\\v  world  was  yet 
riri^iiii;-  with  the  thrilliiiu',  toiichini;'  and  tniini>et-toned 
ballads  wiiich  celebrated  the  virtues  and  saeritices  ofthos(( 
who  dai'ed  an<l  died  tor  the  Stuarts,  With  su(;li  examples 
bofore  them,  meii  who  had  l)een  elevated  and  rewarded  by 
the  Crown  would  have  ])een  false  to  manhood  if  they  ha<l 
not  stood  by  the  source  of  honor  whose  sti'eains  had  en- 
nobled and  enriched  tliem. 

Contrast  Loud  Di;kmi;ntwati;u\>^  tanious  "  (lood  iVi<i|;ht" 
with  a  similar  poem,  evoked  l)y  the  exile  and  ruin  of  the 
Westchestei-  de  Lanceys.  The  same  s])irit  manifests  itself 
in  both. 

lately,  .seriously  atfeclinu',  as  tlicy  iiavc  done  here,  the  teleirraphie 
conuiiuiiicatioii.  In  Northuniherland,  the  aurora  borealis  is  iiuowii 
ainonir  tlie  peasantry  by  tlie  name  of  Lord  Derwentwaters  Ligiits.  In 
the  alf(Mni)t  to  place  tlie  Stuarts  on  the  throne,  the  Karl  of  Derwent- 
water,  head  of  the  <>:reat  Roman  Catiiolie  nortii  country  family  of 
KadclitVe,  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and  i)aidthe  penalty  on  the  scaffold. 
On  the  night  of  his  execution  there  was  a  brilliant  display  of  the 
aurora  borealis,  and  the  simple  peasantry,  by  whom  their  lord,  a  man 
of  high  and  amiable  character,  was  greatly  beloved,  associated  the 
phenomena  with  the  death  of  the  unfortunate  young  nobleman. 

"Tliere  is  also  a  legend,  which  yet  lingers  amidst  the  lumiesteads  of 
the  property  which  once  was  his,  that  the  water  in  the  moat  of  Dilstone 
Castle,  the  family  seat,  turned  blood  red  on  that  same  fatal  night. 
This  notion  is  likely  to  have  arisen  from  the  retlection  of  the  sky 
(crimson  with  the  aurora]  in  the  water.  The  vast  estates  of  the  Rad- 
clitl'es  were  confiscated  to  the  endowment  of  Greenwich  Hospital,  and 
are  now  worth  about  £60,000  a  year.  A  maniac,  calling  herself 
Countess  of  Derwentwater,  has  lately  been  claiming  them."  Post, 
Nov.  29,  1870. 


'■',* 


Ilhtorn-iil   Iiitmdtirtion. 

"  Farewell  to  pleasnnt  Dilsfon  Hall, 

■^Iif  f(ithn\'i  jincient  nent : 
A  stntiniir  iinir  inimt  rail  thee  hin, 

Wliicli  giirs  my  lieurt  to  >;r<'et. 
Farewell  eiicli  friendly  well-known  faee, 

My  iieart  lias  held  so  dear; 
Ml/  tiii(tiit.i  uoir  innxt  leare  their  lamtn. 

Or  hold  their  (ires  in  fear* 

"  No  more  iiloMir  the  l)anks  of  Tyiie, 

I'll  rove  ill  autumn  u^rey  ; 
No  more  I'll  hear  at  early  dawn, 

'I  lie  Ifiv'  rocks  wake  the  day. 
Then  fare  thee  well,  brave  Witherin.irton, 

And  Forster  ever  trwe  ; 
Dear  Shal'tesliiiry  and  Krrinirton, 

Keeeive  my  last  adieu. 

"And  fare  thee  well,  (4eoruc  Collinjrwood, 

Since  fate  has  put  us  down, 
If  tlioii  and  I  have  lost  our  lives. 

Our  Kinir  has  lost  his  crown. 
Farewell,  farewell,  my  lady  dear, 

111,  ill  thou  coiinseH'dst  me; 
/  nerer  more  titdi/  se"  the  babe 

That  xmileN  upon  thif  knee.} 

'And  fare  thee  well,  my  l)onny  grey  steed,]: 

That  carried  me  aye  so  free  ; 
I  wish  I  had  Iieen  asleep  in  my  bed, 

The  last  lime  I  mounted  thee. 
This  warning  bell  now  bids  me  cease. 

My  trouble's  nearlv  o'er; 


XVII 


*  True  to  the  letter  as  regards  the  tenants  and  dependents  of  Sir 
John  Johnson. 

f  Lady  Johnson's  child,  born  in  cni)tivity,  died  in  consequence  of 
the  exposure  attending  her  escape  from  the  Whigs  or  Rebels,  and  Sir 
John  only  looked  upon  it  to  see  it  die. 

X  Sir  John  Johnson  had  a  famous  (white  or  whitey-grey  ?)  char"-er 
which  was  captured  during  the  invasion  of  IT^O.  (See  Simm's  "Scho' 
harie,"38G.) 


^% 


I 


xviii  IfiHtorlcal   liifnuhictlo)). 

^ Oil  iSiii.  Iliiil  rises  IVoin  the  son, 
Shall  rise  on  iiic  no  more. 

"Allx'il  thill  hire  in  liiindun  tuwii, 

It  is  my  fate  to  die  ; 
(>  carry  mo  to  N'orthiimbcriainl, 

III  my  I'atlici's  j;iavc  to  lie  I 
Then  chant  my  solemn  i'e(|uieiii, 

In  IlexiiJim's  holy  towers: 
And  let  six  maids  of  fair  Tynedale, 

Scatter  my  icrave  with  flowers. 

"  And  when  the  head  liiat  wears  the  crown, 

Shall  be  laid  low  like  mine, 
Some  honest  hearts  may  then  lament, 

For  RadclitVe's  fallen  line. 
Farewell  to  pleasant  Dilston  Hall, 

My  father's  ancient  seat  ; 
A  stranjrer  now  must  call  tliee  his, 

Which  i^ars  my  heart  to  jrreet." 

The  toiicliiiiiT  lilies,  jti.st  ([iioted,  an*  octliDcs  of  similui- 
liwirt-uttorauces  of  every  nation  wliicli  has  a  literature, 
and  M'liich  has  been  torn  by  civil  war.  Several  poems  of 
i'\([uisite  pathos  attest  the  <iee])  feeling  of  the  Huguenot 
e.viles  driven  by  bii^otry  from  France  and  from  the  sunny 
homes  thev  were  never  a<;aiii  to  behold.  Manv  vears  ai^o, 
amon^  old  family  records,  the  writer  found  some  verses  in 
manuscript  wliieh  embody  the  same  sentiments  as  those 
which  characterize  "Lord  Derwentwater's  Good  Nij^ht." 
They  refer  to  the  desolation  which  fell  upon  the  domain  in 
Westchester  County,  N.  ^'.,  where  his  grandfather,  Hon. 
John  Watts,  ,lr.,  married.  2d  October,  1775,  the  lovely 
Jane  de  Lancey — a  couple  so  fitted  for  each  other  in 
every  respect,  that  the  festival  was  suitably  commemorated 
in  prose  and  poetry.     The  genth;  Jane  was  the  niece  of 


,)  ■ 


l/lKtoi'triil    Intrinl urtiini. 


.MX 


Ladv  .loliiisoii,  wit'c  <»t'  Sir  .lulm,  ami  the  sister  of  tlic 
tainousCyoloiii'lJaiiiosdi'  Laiicev,  whoor^uuizcMl  u  liattaliun 
of  Loval  liiirht  Ilorso.  "This  Troop  |tlic'  miek'ii,s|  !•» 
truly  '  Elite'  of  tlie  country,"  is  tlie  record  of  the  lioyal 
(lovernor.  Their  coimiiandei',  sti^matize(|  l>y  his  oppo- 
nents as  the  "Outlaw  of  tin;  Hronx,''  hecanie  "the  teri'or 
of  the  region"  h'  tween  the  Harlem  rixcr  aii<l  the  ilioh- 
lands.  Jle  was  fearless  and  indefatiijahle.  an<l,  on  oiu- 
occasion,  came  near  "  fjjohbling"  Washiniiton.  So  t'orniid- 
ahU' did  he  j>rove,  that  Washin,i:;ton's  '' first  offensive  (le- 
sion"— after  his  junction  with  liauzun's  Jiei>-ion  and  the  ad- 
vanced corps  of  Kochambeau — was  an  attemj)t  to  desti'oy 
de  Lancey's  fA'^ion.  This,  like  tliat  of  Lauzun,  l*ulaski. 
Armand  and  "  lii^-jit  II«jrse  Harry"'  Lee,  comj)rised  hotli 
Horse  and  Foot.  The  enteri)rise  was  undertaken  on  the 
niirht  of  1st  .Inly,  1781.      It  failed  com})letely. 

When  the  success  of  the  Americans  was  decided,  Colo- 
nelJames  de  Lancey,  the  hero  of  so  much  sterling  fact  and 
ronumtic  fiction,  went  forth  an  e.xile — a  sad  fate  for  so  hravt' 
an<l  conscientious  a  soldiei-,  although  he  was  rewarded  hy 
the  bounty  and  confidence  of  the  King  for  whom  he  had 
lost  all.  He  was  a  nejdiew  of  Sir  John  .lohnson.  When 
about  to  leave  forever  his  ancestral  lunne,  tlie  "  'Outlaw 
of  the  Bronx'  mounted  his  liorse,  and,  riding  to  the  dwell- 
ings of  his  neighbors  [early  associates  and  constant 
friends  through  life]  bid  them  each  farewell.  His  i)aternal 
fields  and  every  object  presented  to  his  view  wc-re  associ- 
ated with  the  joyful  recollections  of  early  life.  The  con- 
sciousness that  he  beheld  them  all  for  the  last  time,  and 


XX 


Historical  Introduction . 


■\ 


i!l 


tlie  uncortaiiities  to  1)e  eiiconntered  in  the  stranc:e  coiiiitrj 
to  wliich  biiiiisliiuent  was  coiisij^niiiij  liini,  conspired  to 
awaken  emotions  such  as  tlie  sternest  bosom  is  sometimes 
c-ompelled  to  entertain.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  struirgled 
to  suppress  feelings  whicli  sliook  his  iron  lieart.  Nature 
soon  obtained  the  masterv,  and  lie  burst  into  tears.  After 
weeping  M'ith  uncontrollable  bitterness  for  a  few  moments, 
he  shook  his  ancient  friend  by  the  hand,  ejaculating  with 
difficulty  the  words  of  benediction — 'God  bless  you, 
Theophilus  [Bailey]  !'  and  spurring  forward,  turned  his 
back  forever  upon  his  native  valley" — the  home  of  the 
wi-iter's  great-grandparents  on  the  mother's  side. 

The  following  feeling  lines  were  written  by  a  stranger, 
an  Englishman,  who  visited  the  old  de  Lancey  numor,  in 
Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  expecting  to  find  there,  still 
existing,  some  memorials  of  that  gallant,  courtly  and  emi- 
nent race  which  once  directed  the  develojiment  of  the 
colony  and  province.  B'it,  alas,  in  the  same  manner  that 
war,  exile,  confiscation  and  death  had  smitteii  and  scat- 
tered the  proud  owners,  even  so  liad  flood,  fire  and  change 
laid  waste  or  altered  their  ornate  possessions.  A  solitary 
pine^  towering  aloft  in  natural  majesty,  alone  survived  to 
mark  the  spot  M'here  once  a  flourishing  loyal  race  ex- 
tended its  stately  hospitalities,  and  enjoyed  the  sweets  of 
a  home,  the  abode  of  prosperity  and  the  shelter  of  extra- 
ordinary hereditary  capacity.  A  contrast  so  marked  be- 
tween the  past  and  the  present  moved  even  the  alien,  and 
in  poetic  numbers  he  testified  his  sympathy  and  recorded 
the  desolation : 


Historical  In  traduction . 


XXI 


"  Whero  gentle  Bronx  clear  winding  flows 

Ilis  shadowing  hanks  between  ; 
Where  blos.som'd  bell  and  wilding  rose 

Adorn  the  brightest  gn-en  ; 
Memorials  of  the  fallen  great. 

The  rich  and  honor'd  line, 
Stands  high  in  solitary  state, 

Be  Lancey's  ancient  pint. 

"There,  once  at  early  dawn  array'd. 

The  rural  sports  to  lead, 
The  gallant  master  of  the  glade 

Bestrode  his  eager  steed  ; 
And  ouce  the  light-foot  maiden  came. 

In  loveliness  divine. 
To  sculpture  with  the  dearest  name, 

De  Lancey'H  ancie?it  pine. 

"And  now  the  stranger's  foot  explores 

J)e  Lnncey\^  wide  domain, 
And  scarce  one  kindred  lieart  restores 

Ilis  memory  to  the  plain  ; 
And  just  like  one  in  age  alone, 

The  last  of  all  his  line 
Bends  sadly  where  the  Avaters  moan— 

De  Lancey's  ancient  pine. 

"  Oh  greatness!  o'er  thy  final  fall, 

The  feeling  heart  should  mourn. 
Nor  from  de  Lnncey's  ancient  Hall 

With  cold  rejoicing  turn  : 
No  !  no  !  the  satiate  stranger  stays 

When  eve's  calm  glories  shine, 
To  weep— as  tells  of  other  days 

De  Lancey's  ancient  pine." 


y^<^ 


•^^^ 


c??' 


7i\' 


^— v- 


>- 


■II 


1 

I 
■   I 


^■■B 


■•mp 


THE     AMERICAN    LOYALISTS, 


I 


\'' 


"At  the  conclusion  of  a  long  war,  how  ,ire  we  reconipensetl  for  the  death  of  multitudes 
.nul  the  expense  (if  millions,  but  hy  contemphitin.u  the  suilden  glories  of  paymasters  and 
agents,  contractors  and  commissaries,  whose  eiiuipages  shine  like  meteors,  and  whose 
palaces  rise  like  exhalations."  *  Dr.  Johnson. 

"  'I'hus  perished  the  party  of  the  tlironde  ;  reckless  in  its  measures,  cidpable  for  its 
r.ibhness,  hut  illustrious  fron\  its  talents,  glorious  in  its  fall.  It  emhraced  all  the  men  who 
were  philanthropists  from  feeling,  or  Republicans  from  principle;  the  brave,  tV-  h"-  ane, 
the  benevolent.  But  with  them  were  also  combined  within  its  ranks  nund3ers  of  a  baser 
kind  ;  many  who  employed  their  genius  for  the  advancement  of  their  ambition,  and  were 
careless  of  their  country  provided  they  elevated  their  party.  It  was  overthrown  by  a  fac- 
tion of  coarser  materials,  but  more  determined  character,  ♦  *  *  Adorned  by 
the  most  splendid  talents,  supported  by  the  most  powerful  eloijuence,  actuated  at  times 
liy  the  most  generous  intentions,  it  perished  *  *  ♦  Such  ever  has,  and  ever 
will  be,  the  residt  of  revolutionary  convulsions  in  society  when  not  steadily  opposed  in 
the  outset  by  a  firm  union  of  the  higher  cl.asses  of  the  community  ;  in  the  collision  of  oppo- 
site factions  the  virtuous  and  the  moflerate  will  too  often  be  overcome  by  the  reckless  and 
the  daring.  I'rudence  clogs  their  enterprise  ;  virtue  checks  their  ambition  ;  humanity 
paralyzes  their  exertions.  They  fall  because  they  recoil  from  the  violence  which  becomes, 
ill  disastrous  times,  essential  to  conunand  success  in  revolutions." 

.\i.ison's  ^'  H  istory  of  Eutopey''  II.,  ix.,  214,  2. 

Fortunately  tor  tlio  colonies.  Carleton  was  not  in  favor 
with  tlie  British  authorities  at  home,  and  liurj^oyne,  suh- 
stituted  in  1777,  had  neither  the  wisdom  nor  the  generosity 
to  develop  an  element  of  strength  which  Carleton  had  found 
so  ethcacions  and  trustworthy.     Clinton,  in  this  regard, 


*  This  senteTui.'  was  iuloptcd  as  the  motto  ot"  a  somewhat  scarce 
■'  History  of  the  First  Ten  Years  of  Georjrc  III.,"  London,  1788,  written 
hy  (Robert  ?)  Macfarlane,  wlio  kept  an  academy  at  Walthamstow,  in 
Essex  County,  F^ufrland,  seven  miles  N.N.E.  of  London, 
xxii 


Till'  Anil  rim )t    Li>i/iill.^t><. 


win 


imitated  Biirjr<)yiu'.  The  (Tcniian,  Kiiyjiliiuisen,  strjuiirc 
to  say,  was  tlio  tirst  to  jterceivo  the  truth  and  oriraiii/.c  a 
iiiilitarv  organization  of  the  Loyalists  that  conUl  he  relied 
on  n])on  every  occasion,  lie  raised,  in  17T!)-S{),  six  thou- 
sand ^ood  troops  anionii:  the  citizens  of  New  Yorlc,  which 
made  this  city — tlie  trrand  hase  of  tlu*  IJritisli  forces — se- 
cure. A  course  similar  to  that  of  Carleton,  aftei-  tiie  cap- 
ture of  Savannah  ])y  Campl)ell.  in  Deceiidiei-.  177>i,  enahled 
Prevost  to  convert  Geori!:ia  almost  entirely  from  rebellion 
to  loyalty.  Clinton,  in  1777,  was  as  unwise  on  the  Lower 
Hudson  as  Bur<j::oyne  luid  been  on  the  U])per.  CoruM-allis 
had  all  the  sense  of  Carleton  without  his  astuteness.  His 
advice  to  the  Loyalists  of  the  Carolinas  was  admirable.  He 
counselled  them  not  to  take  up  arms  ami  embody  until  he 
was  near  enouc;]»  at  liand  to  protect  and  support  tliem  ;  until 
they  had  ijcatliered  sfreni;tli  to  stand  and  a-o  alone.  His 
jxdicy  ill  this  regard  would  have  worked  wonders,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  intervention  of  a  new  element,  Avhich  had 
not  entered  into  the  calculations  of  any  of  the  Royal  com- 
manders. This  was  the  appearance  upon  the  scene  of  the 
mountaineers  of  the  Alleghanies,  who  were  aroused  to 
action  by  the  fugitives  from  the  districts  occupied  by  the 
temporary  victors.  Cornwallis,  although  severe,  was  just; 
and  it  is  somewhat  renuirkable  that  it  was  not  until  ISOO 
that  a  little  book  appeared,  entitled  "The  Last  Ninety 
Days  of  the  War  in  North  Carolina,"  in  which  justice  is 
done  to  tlie  previously  misrepresented  Marcpiis.  Cornwal- 
lis did  hang  a  number;  but  American  historians  are  very 
careful  not  to  state  tliat  those  hanged  were  taken  ''red 


nr 


xxiv 


Till   Aiinrlean   Loyalists. 


I  I 


(l! 


hand,"  ''witli  Aiiicricaii  arms  in  tlieir  liands  and  with 
British  j)r()tections  in  their  pockets."  It  M'as  only  through 
the  generosity  of  CornM-allis  tliat  the  Loyalists  with  him 
in  Yorktown  were  enabled  to  get  oft'  with  safety  when  the 
place  was  taken. 

The  whole  of  this  matter  is  misnnderstood,  and  has 
never  been  clearly  placed  before  the  people. 

Too  many  of  the  intluential  Loyalists  acted  in  1775-f) 
like  the  French  nobility  in  lTH0-:2.  Louis  de  Lomenie.  in 
liis  ''Comtesse  de  Kochefort  et  ses  Amis"  (p.  "i!*"),  has 
some  remarks  on  this  subject  which  are  ])ertinent. 

"To  explain  so  proni])t  a  downfUU  of  tho  French  aristocracy 
of  the  eigliteenth  century,  writers  have  often  urged  tlie  irresist- 
ible inij)etuosity  of  tlie  Democratic  movement.  We  do  not  deny 
this  impetuosity,  but  it  is  ui'verthcless  necessary  to  recognize 
that  if  this  aristocracy,  in  place  of  being  a  mere  shadow  of  wiiat 
it  should  have  been,  liad  retained  tlu- vigor  of  an  etfectivo /w^/v*- 
ciate  (higher  or  better  class)  and  a  living  body,  it  would  not  witli- 
out  utility,  perltaps,  for  tlu'  cause  of  liberty,  liave  tempered  the 
revolutionary  movement,  or,  at  least,  have  opposed  to  it  a  stronger 
resistance  than  it  did.  It  was  broken  at  the  first  shock,  because 
this  formerly  tlourishing  branch  of  the  great  national  tree" 

was  not  true  to  itself.  Lomenie  goes  on  to  give  other  rea- 
sons which  were  peculiar  to  France,  whereas  in  America, 
although  the  causes  were  apparently  ditl'erent,  they  were 
at  bottom  the  same,  viz.:  the  better  classes  had  "given 
hostages  to  fortune,"  and  this,  according  to  the  proverbs 
of  all  time,  unnerves  men  until  it  is  too  late. 

It  is  inconceivable  how  the  Loyalist  strength  in  the  co- 
lonies was  misapplied,  frittered  away  or  wasted.     The  re- 


Tin   Aiiurlcan  LoijaJixts. 


XXV 


!»ult  only  sliows  tliat  in  all  revolutions  the  Middle  or 
Neutral — generally  styled  the  Conservative — party  only 
embarrass  the  Ultras  on  one  side  in  support  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  aid  the  Radicals,  on  the  other  side,  by  attempt- 
ing to  arrest  or  mediate  ;  thus  aftbrding  time  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  latter,  M'hich  converts  rebellion  into  revolution. 
In  all  political  crises  or  cataclysms,  a  renaissance 
through  blood,  the  best,  the  conservative  class,  the  cham- 
pions of  right,  pure  and  simple,  furnish  the  first  and  the 
bulk  of  the  victims.  Tims  it  was  in  America.  The  daring 
and  reckless  with  conqjaratively  little  to  lose,  with  grand 
exceptions,  it  is  true,  fell  nponthe  intellectual  and  wealthy, 
who  adhered  to  the  ffovernment  under  which  tliev  had 
thriven.  The  myrmidons  of  the  Crown — selfish,  indolent, 
self-satisfied  j^rofessionals — were  as  cruel  in  their  inaction  as 
the  leaders  of  faction  were  merciless  in  their  exactions.  The 
])ersecution  of  the  Tories  was  determined  with  cold-blooded 
calculation,  since  the  Saxon  can  not  plead  in  excuse  the 
excitability  of  the  Celtic  or  Latin  races ;  what  he  does  he 
does  advisedly.  Kor  was  the  desertion  of  the  Loyalists 
at  the  Peace  of  Paris,  1783,  less  disgraceful  on  the  part 
of  Great  Britain.  It  was  fiercely  denounced  in  the  House 
of  Commons ;  it  was  justly  stigmati;ced  in  the  House  of 
Lords.  Even  Lord  St.  Germain  redeemed  himself  in  a 
measure  by  his  eloquent  advocacy  of  the  brave  party 
who  had  abandoned  everything  for  honor — jirinciple,  the 
mother-country ;  its  highest  representative  of  these,  the 
Crown.  Lorenzo  Sabine  has  demonstrated  all  this,  laid 
o[)en   the   iniquity,    revealed    the    truth,    vindicated    the 


■nm 


xw  1 


Till   Aiiiri'tcini   Lo[/al!xtx. 


fi 


Loyalists  or  Tories  ;  tor  the  term  Tory,  as  used  in  re- 
<i;ar<l  to  a  party  adverse  to  liebellioii  or  Revolution,  dur- 
iiiir  1775  to  17.S;>,  is  a  title  of  honor  and  not  a  term  of 
reproach. 

When    the    difficulties    hotween    the    (^rowji    and     tlu' 
Colonies  tirst  began  to  develop  into  positive  ideas  of  ulti- 
mate resistance  ou  the  side  of  the  latter,  the  party  for  inde- 
pendence was  in  a  com])aratively  small  minority  and  con- 
fined to  particular  disaffected  localities.    If  the  whole  i)Oj)u- 
lation  had  then  resolved  itself  into  two  camps,  the  matter 
migl't  have  been  decided  ])rom])tly  and  for  many  years  to 
come.     As  it  ha])pened,  those  who  had  much  to  lose  were 
too  timid  to  act  instantly  and  resolutely  ;  and  those  who  had 
little  01"  nothing  to  lose  became  bolder  and  bolder  in  the  pres- 
ence of  an  irresolute  antagonism,  which  Mas  not  backed  by 
a  military  force  sufficient  absolutely  to  overawe.   Massachu- 
setts was  mujuestionably  in  earnest  from  the  first ;  but  an- 
tagonism to  the  Crown  was  its  normal  condition.     It  had 
always  been  the  hot-bed  <jf  what  might  be  harshly  termed, 
from   a   British    ])oint   of  view,    sedition.      Although    the 
/7>aY  bloodshed  occurred  in  New  York,   on  the   lJ>tli-:>Oth 
January,  1770,  it  would  not  have  led  to  any  comi)aratively 
general  outbreak,  had   it  not  been  for  tlie  terrible  uproar 
following  the  second   Ijh^odshed    at  Bostou,    5th  March, 
1770,  and  the  consequences  wliich  ensued  from  the  latter. 
The  yery  assemblage  which  considered  tlie  Declaration  of 
Iiulependence,  in  177(1,  did  not  unanimously  vote  or  agree 
in  the  act  to  sever  the  connection  between  the  colonic.'s  and 
the  mother  country.    The  <late  accepted,  4th  of  July,  is  in- 


The  xi)iie)'!r(iii    Loijullsts. 


X  X  \- 1 1 


correct;  and  the  Declaration  was  jugi;le(l  through,  and  the 
signatui-es  were  apjiended  from  time  t<>  time  thr<tngliout  tlie 
year,  it'  not  a  Ioniser  [)erio(l.  This  accounts  for  the  irre- 
•i'uK'ii'  numner  they  api)ear  on  the  document,  since  tlie  latest 
were  inserted  where\er  a  vacant  space  was  found.  It  l)e- 
came  a  sort  of  test  oath. 

The  Jtdhji  pul)lished  an  admirable  burlesque,  oi'  j)a- 
rody,  or  caricature  of  TrumbulTs  famous  picture  <.>f  "The 
Siii'niuii'. ''  It  depicts  the  representatives  in  very  dilapi- 
dated conditions,  with  blackened  eves,  bruised  b<»dies.  toiii 
clothes  and  general  tokens  of  an  aHVay,  drawing  near  to  affix 
their  signatures  at  the  table  where  Hancock  presides  look- 
ing like  the  genius  of  an  Irish  wake.  There  is  as  much 
truth  as  ])oetry  in  the  conception,  for  the  Declaration  was 
not  agreed  to  with  anvthing  like  uiumimitv  or  the  general  Iv 
conceived  harmony. 

There  is  :  omething  vei'y  curious  about  the  res])ect  as- 
tached  to  this  "4th  of  Julv."  The  first  Conirress  of  tlu* 
Colonies  signed  a  "Compact  of  Tnion"'  ( R.  W.  G.'sG.W. 
and  his  Gens.,''  II  .  15),  on  the  4th  of  Julv,  17."»4,  at  Al- 
banv.  This  may  account  for  the  selection  of  this  dav  in 
ITT^i.  The  fact  that  two  of  our  ex-Presidents,  who  had 
signed  the  Declaration,  died  on  the  same  date,  a<lded  ad- 
ditional significance,  which  a  series  of  victories,  from  Kast 
to  West  along  the  whole  line  on  the  same  day.  in  ls»;;;. 
coniirmed  in  the  niiiuls  of  the  peo])le. 

The  Loyalists,  confiding  in  the  power  of  the  Crown, 
did  not  take  u])  arms  as  soon  as  their  adversaries ;  and 
thus,  when  they  did  begin  to  embody,  they  were  at  once 


i) 


i 


XXVUI 


T/iC  Amcrii'iih   Loi/allHts. 


cruslit'd  1)V  stroiiijfc'r  and  hctttM'  oru^anizod  masses.  Tlie 
British  j>r(>t'essii»iial  leaders — as  a  rule  tlirouirliout  all  time, 
and  especially  in  this  country — with  the  usual  arroffancc 
of  their  caste,  neither  souLdit  to  utilize,  sup])ort  nor  ])rotect 
their  friends  when  they  did  come  toi:;ethei-,  and  even 
treated  them  with  su])ercili(»nsness  an<l  ue<;lect,  if  they  «lid 
not  absolutely  sacrifice  them  when  they  aj)j)eared  as  auxil- 
iaries. Carleton  was  tho  first  wlio  had  the  wisdom  to 
call  this  element  into  ])Iay,  and  throui;h  it  he  saved  Canada, 
just  as  the  French  had  })revi()usly  lost  New  France  tlirouuli 
a  contrary  course  t>)  his.  amountiniz"  to  the  same  subsequent 
lack  of  Judgmen*  on  the  part  of  the  royal  British  military 
•rovernors. 


SIR    JOHN    JOHNSON, 

KNIGHT  AND  BARONET. 
BoKN  6th  Nov.,  171-,'.     Died  Jth  .Ian.,  l^•^(•. 


"The  Past  appeals  to  the  impartiuMty  of  the  Kutiire.  History  replies.  Hut,  often, 
generations  pass  away  ere  that  reply  can  tie  given  in  a  deterniinate  fnriu.  I'or  not 
until  the  voices  of  contemporaneous  panegyric  anil  censure  are  hushed  ;  not  until  passionate 
pulses  have  ceased  to  heat  ;  not  until  flattery  has  lost  its  power  to  charm,  and  calumny  to 
vilify,  can  the  verdict  of  history  be  pronounced.  1  hen  from  the  clouds  of  error  and  pre- 
judice the  sun  of  truth  emerges,  and  light  is  diffused  in  bright  rays,  of  ever  increasing 
refidgency  and  breadth.  *  *  *  Every  age  has  its  own  heroes — men  who  seem  to  em- 
body the  prevailing  ch.iracteristics  of  their  relative  epochs,  anil  to  proent  to  after  ages 
the  ideali/ed  expression  of  their  chief  tendencies.  Such  men  mtist  be  judged  by  no  ordi- 
nary standard.  History  must  view  their  actions  as  a  whole,  not  sid)ject  them  to  separate 
tests,  or  examine  them  through  the  lenses  of  partial  criticism  and  narrow-minded  [ircjudice." 
Oscar  11.,  King  of  Sweden,  in  his  "Li/e  of  Chw/es  XIJ.'" 

"  I  would  serve  my  king  ; 
Serve  him  with  all  my  fortune  here  at  home. 
And  serve  him  with  my  person  in  the  wars  ; 
Watch  for  him,  fight  for  him,  bleed  for  him,  and  die  for  him. 
As  every  true-born  subject  ought  I" 

Tho.mas  Otwav's  Tragedy,  "T/ie  Orphan,"  i68o. 

Perliaps  no  man  in   "  tlie  Colonies"  who  adhered  to 

the  Crown,  has  heen  so  cruellv  niisjud'ii'ed  and  consistently 

niisrei)resented    as   Sir   John   Johnson.      Every   jjossible 

charge,     derogatory   to    him,     has    heen    raked    up   and 

bronght    ont   against  him.     Why  ^     Beeanse  he    <lid    not 

submit    (juietly  to  what  he  deemed  injustice,   but   struck 

back  boldlv  and  severely— ^made  himself  felt,  made  those 
xxix 


w 


i'  -'- 


XXX 


A'//*   John    J(i/i)is(>n. 


suftbr  who  caiisi-d  liini  to  siilii'i".  lie  was  tlic  only  l.»»yal- 
ist  who  had  \\\('  o|)])ortiniity  to  force  tlie  Ititter  clialico 
which  he  luid  )>et'ii  v-onipelled  to  drain,  back  iipou  the;  li[»s 
of  those  who  tilled  it  tor  him,  and  in  tni'n  ohlii::ed  tlieni  to 
(inaft'tlie  isanie  hatefnl  <h'auiilit.  The  de  Lancevs  and  many 
other  Loyalists  t'onu'lit  just  as  boldly  and  as  l)itterly,  and 
as  persistently,  but  they  never  had  the  same  opportunity 
as  Sir  .John  to  make  ev(!ry  tibre  ot'antat^onism  (juiver. 

Tlu'  fathei-  ot'Sii- .btliii  dohnsoii— the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir— was  the  famous  Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart..  C\>lo- 
\\v\  in  the  Royal  Army,  ISrajor-General  in  the  Provincial 
service  and  Jh'itisli  Superintendent  of  Indian  Alfairs. 
This  <>:entleman  was,  perhaps,  the  most  i)romiiient  uuui  in 
the  province  of  New  York  durinu"  the  decade  which  preceded 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Peter  Van  Schaack,  a 
very  noted  lawyer  of  the  period,  wrote,  -luly,  1774.  a  few 
days  after  the  Baronet's  decease:  ''1  own,  I  consider  him 
as  the  (JKKATEST  cHAKAC'TEK  OF  THE  AGE."  If  cvcr  there 
was  a  leader  who  deserved  the  Corona  Oleaglna'^  of 
the  Konums,  it  was  Sir  William.  Whether  a  Jansen — a 
descendant  of  one  of  those  indomitable  Hollanders  wlio 
assisted  to  subdue  Ireland,  and  ang-licised  their  names — 
or  of  English  race,  proper,  Sir  William  was  a  strong  ex- 
ample of  those  common-sense  men  who  know  how  to 
seize  Fortune  by  the  forelock  and  not  clutch  in  vain  the 


*  This  Corona  Oleagina,  was  a  wreath  of  olive  leaves  and  the  re- 
ward of  a  commander  throu«.'h  whose  instrumentality  a  triumph  had 
been  obtained  though  not  himself  in  the  action  by  which  it  was 
achieved.    Ail.  Gei.l.,  V..  <3. ;  Kuh.  Dict.,  R.  &  G.  A. 


111 


:l 


Sft'  •/o/in    Jojinxim . 


.\XM 


ti'i'sscs  which  How  th>wii  her  rnutlhuj  Ixifk.  lie  ojiciu'd 
to  c'liiiirratioii  two  ot'  the  most  |'i"o(hictive  vaMcys  in 
tlu'  vvorM — the  Mohawk  and  Sclioharic :  and  with  the 
dcvclopnu'iit  of"  thcii'  riches  rose  hiniselt'  to  a  heiirht  of 
ojiulence  and  influence  uiie<[iianed  in  the  '•'ridi'teen 
Colonies/'  .lust  in  his  (k'alin_i;s  with  all  men,  he  wj; 
particularly  so  with  the  Indians,  ami  actjuired  a  power 
over  the  latter  such  as  no  other  imlividual  ever  ]»ossossed. 
Transferred  from  civil  jurisdiction  to  nnlitarv  comnuind  lie 
exhihited  no  less  alulity  in  the  more  danircrous  exigen- 
cies of  war.  than  in  tlie  laborious  services  of  peace, 
lie,  it  was,  wlio  first  stemmed  the  tide  of  Fi-ench 
invasion,  and  tni-ned  it  at  Lake  (reorire,  in  IT"*');  re- 
coiviui^  both  from  his  sovereiixn  and  from  Parliament 
a  irratef'ul  recoirnition  <'+'  his  extraordinary  services. 
Xor  were  the  peoj)k*  of  ti.>-  Province  of  New  York  less 
demonstrative  in  tlieir  ai)])lause  or  ajtjiri'ciative  of  his 
achievements.  At  "Johnson  Hall ""  he  lived  in  truly 
baronial  state,  and  uo  other  provincial  mairnate  ever  ex- 
hibited such  aiiluence  and  i^randeur  as  was  disjtiayed  by 
him  in  his  castle  and  home  (  Fort  elohnson)  on  the  ^^ohawk. 
His  ureatest  achievement,  in  immediate  as  well  as 
ultinuite  results.  Mas  Ids  victory  at  Lake  George  over  the 
veteran  Dieskau,  Stli  Auirust.  1755.  New  England, 
ahvavs  jealous  of  New  York,  has  endeavored  as  usual 
to  transfer  the  laurels  from  Johnson  to  one  of  lier  own 
peo})le.  As  king,  country  and  countrymen  accorded  tlie 
honor  and  reward  to  Johnson,  ''success,"  in  his  case, 
"proved  tlie  test  of  merit."'     That  there  were  New  Eng- 


XXXll 


*SV/'  Jitlui  John  HO  It. 


i 


laiuU-rs  \vli<»  c'duM  t'stiiiiiitt'  Joliiisson  at  lii.s  true  vahio,  k't 
the  tbllowiii^di'tk'i' (Stone's  ''SirW.  ,1./'  I.,  521)  uttest.  It 
is  from  Surgeon  Williams,  of  Massachiusctts,  to  his  wife  in 
Deertield  in  that  colony.  It  bears  the  date  of  the  very 
day  of  the  battle,  which,  by  the  way,  was  exactly  a  month 
less  a  day  subseciuent  to  IJraddock's  defeat;  the  l*rovin- 
cial  by  his  ability  redeeminj;'  in  New  York  the  incaj)acity 
of  the  Professional  and  Regnlar  in  Pennsylvania:''' 

"I  must  say,"  wrote  Williams,  "he  [Joliiison]  is  a  complete 
ijentlcman,  and  willim;  to  please  and  oldiije  all  men;  familiar 
and  free  of  access  to  the  lowest  sentinel;  a  ixentleman  of  un- 
common smart  sense  and  even  temper;  never  saw  liim  in  a 
rutHe,  or  use  any  had  lanL>ua,i;e — in  short,  I  never  was  so  dis- 
a|)p(>inted  in  a  person  in  the  idea  T  had  of  liini  before  I  came 
from  home,  in  my  life  ;  to  sum  up,  lie  is  almost  universally  be- 
loved ami  esteemed  by  olticers  and  soldiers  as  a  second  3[<irl- 
horotKjh  for  eoolnsss  of  head  and  wammess  of  heart.'" 

His  next  exploit,  scarcely  less  notable  and  residtive,  was 
the  defeat  of  a  superior  French  force  seeking  to  relieve 
Fort  Niagara,  and  his  capture  of  this  noted  stronghold, 
24th  July,  17r)'.>.  The  distinguished  British  general  and 
ndlitary  historian.  Sir  Edward  Cust,  in  his  "Annals  of 
the  Wars,"  refers  in  tlu^  following  language  to  this  not- 
able exploit  of  Sir  William:  "Th"  tleman,  like  Clive, 
was  a  self-taught  general,  vvh  iit  of  innate  courage 
and  natural  sagacity,  with  j  help  of  a  military  edu- 
cation or  ndlitary  experience,  rivalled,  if  not  eclipsed  the 
srreatest  commr  nders.  Sir  William  Johnson  ondtted  no- 
thing  to  continue  the  vigorous  measures  of  the  late  geiu'- 


Mi 


Sf'r  John   Joint  son. 


X.WllI 


rill   I  I*i'i«l('iiux,  kilU'dlaiHl  juldcd  to  tliciii  cviTytliinj;  liis 
own  ,i:;t'iiins  could    sii<.«':i;est.     The  troops,    who  rt'SjK'cted, 


and 


tl 


ic  provincnils, 


wl 


lo  adorci 


Inin 


w 


ere  n()t   less  dc- 


voti'd  than  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  who  gladly  fol- 
lowed ins  oW!i  ever  fortunate  banner  and  the  less  fortunat<3 
•^.nidoii  of  his  no  less  valiant  and  loval  son. 

Thus,  with  a  sway  hard  to  eoinprehend  at  the  i)resent 
day,  heloved.  rositocted  and  feared  by  law-hreakcrs  and 
evil-doers,  the  mortal  enendes  of  his  senn-eivilized  wards — 
the  Six  Xjitions — lie  lived  a  life  of  honor ;  and  died,  not 
hy  his  own  hand,  as  stated  hy  prejudiced  tradition,  but  a 
victim  to  a  cln'onic  debilitating  disease,  and  to  that  ener- 
i;v  which,  althonj'li  it  never  bent  in  the  service  of  kiui;  or 
countrv,  had  to  vield  to  vears  and  nature.  Sick,  and 
thereby  une([ual  to  the  demands  of  public  Ijusiness,  he 
|)resided  at  a  council,  1  Itli  July,  1774,  s])oke  and  directed, 
until  his  ebbin<:,'  stren<i;tli  failed,  and  could  not  be  restored 
by  the  iiKide<puite  remedial  measures  at  hand  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  wilderness.  To  no  one  man  does  central 
New  York  owe  so  much  of  liei-  ])liysical  (U^velopment  as 
to  Sir  William  Jolinson. 

Wedded,  in  173J),  to  a  Ilollandish  or  German  maiden, 
am])ly  endowed  witli  the  best  ijifts  of  nature,  both  physical 
and  mental,  ''<]food  sound  sense,  and  a  nnld  and  ijentle 
disj)osition,"  Sir  William  was  by  her  the  father  of  one 
son,  born  in  1742,  and  two  daughters.  The  latter  are 
sutticiently  described  in  a  charnung,  well-known  book, 
entitled  ''The  ]\remoirs  of  an  American  Lady" — Mrs. 
(Ti'aut,  of  Laggan.     The  former  was  Sir  John  Johnson,  a 


XXXIV 


S/'r  -litJm  ■! iiJiii. '<())} , 


mori-  heroic  r('])rc'si'iit;iti\  r  <>1"  the  transition  i-ra  of  this 
StJitt',  tliiiii  tliosi'  whom  Suc'coss,  and  its  l)\tpi' — History, 
iiavc  i)hu'ed  in  the  national  "Waliialhi."  Whik'  yot  a 
yonth  tliis  son  a('C(»ninanic'(l  his  father  to  histoids  of  battle, 
and,  when  tiie  ueneralitv  of  hovs  are  at  school  or  eolleii'o, 
witnessed  tMo  of  the  l)l()odiest  contiicts  on  whicli  the  fate 
of  tlie  colony  depended.  He  had  scarcely  attaine<l  majcjr- 
ity  when  lie  was  entrusted  with  an  indeiten  nt  command, 
and  in  it  dis|)layed  aii  ability,  a  fortitnde.  and  a  jndi;-- 
nient  worthy  of  riper  ycirs  and  wider  experience. 

Sent  out  to  Enirlaml  by  his  father  in  17<!r>,  ''to  try  to 
wear  off  the  rusticity  of  a  countrv  echication,"'  inniieciiatelv 

•  «  * 

n[)()n  his  presentation  at  court  he  received  from  liis 
soveiciiLrn  an  acknowledgement — ])artly  due  to  the  ro])uta- 
tion  of  his  ])arent,  and  i)artly  to  his  own  tact  and  capacity 
— such  as  stands  alone  in  colonial  history.  Althouii'h  his 
father,  Sir  AVilliam,  was  already  a  kniirht  and  baronet  for 
service  to  the  crown,  John  was  hims(df  kniu'hted,  at  the 
aire  of  twenty-three ;  and  thus  the  old-new  baronial  hall 
at  .lohnstown  sheltered  two  recipients,  in  the  same  fannly 
and  iicneration,  of  the  accolade  of  chivalry.  There  is  no 
parallel  to  this  double  kniiihthood  in  American  biop-aphy, 
and  but  few  in  the  family  aimals  of  older  countries. 

This  was  the  era  when    "New  York  was  in  its  hai»piest 
state.'" 

In  the  sunnner  of  ITT^^,  and  in  his  thirtieth  year.  Sir 
John  Johnson  married  the  beautiful  Mary— or,  as  she  was 
atJectionately    called,    -  Polly '*— Watts,    ajred    nineteen. 


Sh'  Jolin  J(>hn>*on. 


x.wv 


Mrs.  Grant,  of  liai;<i:an,  has  left  ns  a  clianiiinfj  jHai-portrait 
of  this  ])ri<>lit  iiiaidcn. 

Iniioritiiii;  liis  fatlier's  dignities  and  respotisi])ilities. 
Sir  .John  »Jolinson  eouh!  not  have  been  otherwise  than  a 
eha»»'.pioii  of  his  sovereign's  I'ights.  XK  he  had  turned  liis 
coat  to  save  his  j)roperty,  like  some  of  the  j)roniinent 
j)atriots,  he  would  have  been  a  renegjuk'.  if  not  worse. 
Some  of  the  liglits  of  patriotism  had  alreadv  cast  longing 
glances  upon  his  rich  ]>ossessions  in  the  Mohawk  Vallev. 
Its  hisloi'ian  intinuites  (Simms,  Vl{\)  that  in  a  successful 
rebellion  the  latter  counted  upon  dividing  his  princely 
(lonuiins  into  snug  little  fai'ins  for  themselves.  The  germ 
of  anti-rentism  was  developing  already  :  altl'.;>ugh  it  tO(d< 
over  sixtv  to  seventy  vears  to  tlioi'ouijhlv  enlist  Icijislative 
assistance,  and  perfect  spoliation  in  the  guise  of  m<»(k'rn 
agrarian  law.  Surrounded  by  a  devoted  temmtry,  backed 
by  those  "Romans  of  Anu'rica,"  the  "Six  Nations," 
those  "Indians  of  the  Indians,""  the  lr<»(|Uois.  it  was  not 
easy  "to  bell  the  cat"  by  foi-ce.  It  is  neither  jiolitic  nor 
inteiidcMl  to  revive  here<litarv  animosities  bv  the  mention 
of  mimes.  SutHcient  to  say,  might  prevaik-d  over  right, 
and  Sir  John  was  jilaced  under  what  the  j\ll»any  Coin- 
mittee  clutose  to  detine  a  "]>arole."  ^fodern  courts  of 
in([uiry,  especially  in  the  I'nited  States  since  IS^IO,  have 
decided  that  such  a  vairue  svstem  of  paroling'  i^^  in  itself 
invalid,  and  that  indivitluals  subjected  to  such  a  jtroci'dure 
are  absolved  de  facto  from  an\  ple<lges. 

It  is  both  [lersisteut  and  popular  to  charge  Sir  John  with 

having  broken  his  parole.     Before  even  entering  int<>  the 
(I 


XXXVl 


Sf'r  John  Johnson. 


m 


.  i 


'[uestion,  it  is  simple  justice  to  rebut  the  charge  by  denial. 
His  superiors  did  not  recognize  it,  and  able  men  ac(piainted 
witii  military  hiw  are  not  unanimous  in  holding  that  a 
parole,  imj)v>sed,  as  it  was  upon  him.  was  binding  either  in 
hiw  or  honor.  F)Ut.  even  it' it  were  valid,  he  did  not  break 
it,  since  the  veiy  self-constituted  authority  that  imposed  it. 
abrogated  it  by  its  own  action. 

There  are  two  })arties  to  every  contract,  legal,  e([uitable 
or  honorable,  and  it'(Mie  pai'ty  uses  dujdicity  and  manifests 
the  intention  to  alter  an  agreement  l)y  a  procedure  which 
would  coni])letely  change  the  relation  of  the  parties,  what- 
ever, great  or  small,  could  come  within  or  under  the  legal 
signitication  of  fraud,  or  even  deception,  or  "a  snare," 
abrogates  every  contract.  If  Sir  John  gave  a  parole  to 
any  parties  having  })ower  to  exact  it,  he  was  entitled  to 
every  right  aiul  privilege  conferred  by  a  parole.  If  using 
the  ])arole  as  a  blind,  those  by  whom  it  was  exacted,  un- 
dertook to  withdraw  it  simultaneously  with  the  suhstitu- 
tion  of  an  order  for  his  arrest  and  close  and  severe  contine- 
ment,  and  the  lattei-  could  onlv  be  effected  bv  treaeherv 
to  the  obligations  of  the  former,  common  justice  must 
concede  that  the  discovery  of  such  an  intention  put 
an  end  to  the  obligation  of  the  parole.  The  treatment  of 
Lady  Johnson  subsecjuent  to  her  husband's  escape  is  the 
very  best  j)roof  of  the  anhnus  which  dictated  the  course 
aij^ainst  Sir  John.  If  a  bodv  in  authoritv  could  hold  the 
utmost  penalty  over  the  head  of  a  hel]»less  woman,  detained 
as  a  hostage,  it  is  only  fair  to  believe  that  there  wouhl  have 
been  no  mercy  shown  to  the  detiant  husband.     The  little 


S/r  ./o/i/i  Johnson. 


xxxvii 


rare  work  Jilready  citcMl  in  tliese  pjiijcs  as  an  authority, 
"  The  Adventures  of  a  Lady  in  the;  AVar  of  Inde])endence 
in  America,"  sets  fortli  tlie  cruelty  exhibited  towards  Ladv 
J(^linson,  and,  until  that  can  be  shown  to  be  false,  it  must 


be 


ac 


cei 


ted 


!is  a  trustworthy  witness 


The  treatment  of  Madame  de  Lavalette,  by  the  Fi'ench 
<^overnmeiit,  for  co-o})eratiii<i:  in  thcesca]>e  of  her  husband, 
condemned  to  death  for  liis  adherence  to  Napoleon  in  18ir>, 
has  always  been  considered  an  indellible  stigma  u]>on  it. 


General  Cust 


li 


it  of   ''tr<ac/i< 


ounces  mm  mnocenl 
Still,  although  this  lady  suffered  a  rigorous  s(>litary  con- 
finement of  twenty-six  days,  no  one  dreamed,  even  at  this 
period,  of  tlie  intensest  feeling  and  l>itterest  animosity,  or 
intimated,  that  she  should,  or  would  be,  lield  iis  a  hostage 
for  the  conduct  of  lier  hnsbaml.  "*.\ow.  Madam,"  is  the 
lani^uaije  addressed  to  Lady  -lohnson,  as  (luoted  bv  her 
daugliter-in-law,  Mrs.  Colonel  Christopher  Johnson,  "My 
command  does  not  extend  beyond  this  })rovince;  but,  if 
Sir  John  comes  one  foot  Avithin  my  disti'ict  with  his  mur- 
derous allies — your  fatt  is  seale<l !  "TIow,  sir:  what  do 
you  mean  (  AVhat  can  I  do!  "  gasped  the  lady,  oyercome 
for  the  moment  by  the  information  and  the  numner  in 
wliich  it  was  conyeyed.  "  I  mean.  Madam,  that  if  your 
husband  lets  his  Indians  go  on  scal]»ing  our  j)eople,  we  can't 
prevent  then  sliooting  nou  "'^  *  Your  case,  ^Afadam,  is 
different  from  all  others.  Sir  John  [Coh  Guy  was  Su|)erin- 
tendent  of  the  Indians,  not  Sir  John]  has  jtower  over  the 
Indians,  wliom  i»o  one  else  can  conti'ol.  We  liave  no  wish 
to  injure   you  indiyidually  ;   but  we  must  save  our  j)eo]tle 


X  XX  VI 11 


xSVr  John  Johnson. 


fVoiii  liis  savuixos.  IIV  liold  i/oii  und  your  childvi  n  nx  host- 
n<i<-s  /  iuid  we  consider  that  aiiotlici*  siicli  descent  as  tlie 

Indians  made  yesterday  on  the  vilhiue  of ,  will  iustitV 

us  in  the  eyes  of  the  wliole  world  in  a\enirin>r  the 
slau<i;liter  of  nianv  women  and  children,  as  helpless  and 
more  innocent  than  yourself!  " 

A  prominent  major-i^eneral,  a  ren'ular  otHcer.  dis- 
tinguishe<l  in  liis  profession  as  well  as  with  his  pen,  to 
whom  the  (juestion  of  this  j»arole  was  snhnutted,  decided 
in  favor  of  Sir  .lolm,  aixl  a  lawyer  of  standini;  and  an 
historian  of  ability  lias  aruued  this  question  at  lenu'th  in 
his  Notes,  xxx.,  xxxi.,  to  the  ''History  of  New  York,"  by 
Jud<i!;e  Thomas  Jones,  wlio,  likewise,  exonerates  Sir  John. 
Mr.  de  Lancey  after  furnishini::  liis  proofs,  sums  up  the 
matter  in  these  words  :  •'  The  common  diarize  of  historical 
writers,  that  Sir  John  broke  his  parole,  is  therefore  "  ^/vV/c- 
out  t'o}(n(httio)i  a)i(l  untrue.''''* 

In  a  conversation  with  Gen.  B.  B.  C ,  had  5-3-80, 

discussinu'  the  <iuestion  of  paroles,  this  ijentleman, 
author  of  "'  P>attles  of  tlie  American  Revolution,''  who 
had  given  the  closest  attention  to  original  documents  at 
home  and  in  England,  furnislied  additional  arguments  as 
to  the  impossibility  of  the  right  to  impose  a  parole  on 
Sir  .John.     Johnson  was  put   upon  parole,   so  called,   by 

*  In  flic  Appendices  ("  Proofs  Considered")  to  the  writer's  Address 
on  Sir  .lolin  Johnson,  Bart.,  delivered  before  the  New  York  Historical 
Society,  at  its  annual  meeting,  ('»th  January,  1880,  iMr.  de  Lancey  has  not 
only  been  quoted  at  lenpth,  but  additional  evidence  printed  derived 
from  other  and  various  sources. 


sir  'John  Jo/inxo)). 


x\\i\ 


those  wli»»  wore  styling  tlieinselvos  at  the  time  'M'aithtul 
subjects  of  his  ^rajestv.*"'  If  faitiifiil  suhjects,  how  had 
Sir  Joliu  rendered  himself  lia])k'  when  the  oriirinal  chai'^es 
a_i>;ainst  him  were  '' s\ibse(jiientl_v  proved  false  f 

There  are  some  curious  circumstances  connected  with 
this  consideration  would  re(juire  a  lawyer's  brief  to  make 
them  ])lain  to  connnon  obsei-vation.  Sufficient  to  say, 
everything  turns  on  the  success  of  the  Kevolution.  Miijh' 
made  riglit,  and  Sir  John,  who  if  the  Crown  had  won 
would  have  been  exalted  to  the  seventh  heaven  of  honor, 
since  the  mothei*  country  failed,  is  thrust  down  into  the 
lowest  nether  depths  by  those  who  rose  on  hi-  I';,ll  and 
profited  by  the  confiscation  of  his  extensive  estates.  Such 
is  human  judgment.  It  is  to  be  ho[>ed  tne  same  huv  does 
not  rule  elsewhere.  If,  however,  it  was  a  simple  exeni- 
})lificatio!i  of  "might  nuikes  right,''  there  is  no  more 
to  be  said.  That  is  the  supreme  law  of  this  country  to- 
day ;  no  other. 

Here  it  is  not  oidy  pertinent  but  just  to  remark,  that 
Count  <rEstaing,  the  first  Fi'ench  (•ommamler  who 
brought  assistance  to  this  country,  had  notoriously  broken 
his  parole,  and  yet  American  writers  have  never  alluded 
to  the  fact  as  prejudicial  to  his  honor.  It  did  not  serve 
their  purpose.  The  French  held  thai  AVashiuijfton  once 
violated  his  parole;  and  ^[ichelet,  a  devoted  friend  to 
liberty  and  this  country,  feelingly  refers  to  the  case  of 
Jumonville,  to  demonstrate  one  of  the  heart-burnings 
which  France  had  to  overcome  in  lending  assistance  to 
the  revolted  colonies.     Afarshall,   in  his   "Life  of  Wash- 


xl 


*SV/'  John   Johnson. 


in<rtcni,  "*  eiitiTs  into  a  detailod  ex|iIaiiation  of  tliis  event ;  but 
it  only  sliows  that  if  national  anta;;onisni  is  so  difficnlt  to 
reconcile,  how  ninch  more  so  is  tlie  intenser  spite  of  civil 
dift'erences  after  blood  has  been  slied.  ]Iom'  many  South- 
ern officers,  in  spite  of  their  pandes,  mot  the  Uiuon  troops 
on  battleiield  after  battlefield.  Tie<riments  and  brii^ades. 
if  not  divisions,  ])aroled  at  Vicksburg,  were  encountered. 
it  is  averred,  within  a  few  weeks  in  the  conflicts  around 
Chattanooga.  French  i^enerals.  paroled  by  tlu'  Prussians, 
it  has  also  been  charged,  tlid  lujf  hesitate  to  accej»t  active 
connnands  in  even  the  shortest  space  of  time.  CMrcum- 
stances  alter  cases,  and  under  those  which  govern  in  re- 
spect to  him,  the  charge  against  Sir  John  was  a  ]»retext ; 
but,  weak  as  it  is,  it  f's  not  true.  Power  in  all  ages  has 
not  been  delicate  in  its  choice  of  meat»s  to  destroy  a  dan- 
gerous antagonist. 

It  would  have  been  well  for  some  of  the  noblest  histor- 
ical victims,  such  as  Abner,  Aniasa,  Serforius,  Viriathus, 
Abd  el-Kader,  Osceola, — if  they  had  com])rehended  the 
spirit  of  these  verses  (Ecdesiasticus  xii.,  10,  \{\)  as  well  as 
the  reply  of  van  der  Does,  in  Leyden,  to  the  Sjianish 
general  Valdez,  besieging  the  j)lace  : 

''The  fowler  plays  sweet  notes  on  his  pipe  when  he 
spreads  his  net  for  the  bird." 

Sir  John  was  to  have  been  simultaneously  released  from 
his  parole  and  made  a  prisoner.  The  officer  who  carried 
the  communication  discharging  Sir  John  from  his  parole, 
was  the  bearer  also  of  di>*ections  to  arrest  him  as  soon  as 
he  had  I'oad  it,  "and  make  liim  a  close  j>risoner,  and  care- 


Sf'r  -loliii  Johnson. 


xli 


tullv  ijuiird  liiiii  tluit  lie  may  not  liave  tlie  least  «>|»|)()rtuiiity 
to  escape."  Sir  .loliii  liad  sonu'  triends  ainon;ir  tliose  wlio 
were  now  in  jtower,  and  received  intelli<xence  of  wliat  was 
goiui?  on.  Jle  exercised  ordinary  discretion,  and  escaped 
before  tlie  traj) — a  ''snare,"  as  Lossinif  styles  it — could 
be  sprnni;  upon  liini. 

Sir  flolin  tied,  but  lie  did  not  Hy  unaccoini»aiued ;  and 
anionir  his  subse(|uent  associates,  otlicers  and  soldiers, 
were  men  of  as  ijood  standing;  as  those  who  reniaine«l  be- 
hind to  i»rofit  bv  the  chaiiire  of  authority.  Manv  of  the 
latter,  however,  expiated  their  sins  or  error-  on  the  day 
of  reckonini^  at  Oriskany. 


"  Sir  Joliti,  after  nineteen  dnys  of  iiiooiieeivable  hardships, 
reached  ^Montreal  with  his  companions  in  a  state  of  thtiLTue  and 
destitution  wliich  tliey  could  not  have  survived  nianv  davs 
Ioniser.  The  rcLfular  roads  were  so  entirely  occui»ietl  by  the 
rebels,  that  thev  had  to  take  a  circuitous  route  throuirli  the 
thickets  of  the  forests.  The  few  provisions  the  Indians  had 
prepared  were  soon  exhausted, and  they  had  to  subsist  on  roots; 
their  boots  and  dotlies  were  completely  destroyc«l,  and  when 
they  reached  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  it  was  difficult  to 
recognize  or  understand  the  gaunt  spectres  who  emerged  from 
tiie  'bush,'  to  seek  sheUer  and  a  [)assage  across  [tlie  St.  Law- 
rence] from  the  wondering  '  habitans'  of  the  tirst  settlement 
they  came  to.  But  a  few  weeks  sufficed  to  restore  Sir  John  to 
his  usual  vigor,  botli  of  mind  and  body  ;  and,  before  he  was  able 
to  assume  an  active  connnand,  he  was  at  work  organizing  a 
force  of  Loyalists,  of  M'hich  he  is  the  colonel,  and  his  frequent 
irruptions  into  the  territory  held  by  the  Continentals,  as  they 
call  themselves,  were  the  causes  of  your  [Lady  Johnson's]  heing 
removed  from  Albany.  He  is  charged  by  them  with  having 
broken  his  word  of  honor,  jiledged  that  he  would  remain  pas- 


XlII 


Sf'r  JoJui    Jolnixou. 


sive  ;  hut  we  all  knot''  tlmt  lih  }iert<()n  would  hare  been  seized^  had 
he  regained  that  uU/ht  [wliun  Col.  Dayton  arrived]  at  the  llaUP 
Stone,  in  liis  '  Life  of  Hrant'  (I.,  144),  corroborates  this.  'After 
nineteen  days  of  severe  hardship,  tlie  Baronet  and  his  partisans 
arrived  at  Motitreal  in  a  pitiable  eondition — having  encountered 
all  of  suflerini;  that  it  si-cjiud  possildi'  for  man  to  endure.' 
Stone  then  adds  (//*/</,  144),  and  he  presents  ahnostthe  idt-ntieal 
idea  of  the  maunaniinotis  Sabine  (I.,  oHl):  'Sir  John  was 
immediately  eonnnissioned  a  colonel  in  the  British  service,  and 
raised  a  command  of  two  battalions,  composed  of  those  who 
accom|ianied  him  in  his  ilii^ht,  and  other  American  loyalists  who 
subsequently  followed  their  example,  Tiiey  were  called  the 
*Roval  Greens.'  In  the  month  of  Januarv  followinu;,  he  found 
his  way  into  Xew  York,  then  in  possession  of  the  British 
forces.  From  that  period  he  became,  not  only  one  of  the  most 
active,  but  one  of  the  bitterest  foes  of  his  own  countrymen 
of  any  who  were  engaged  in  that  contest — and  repeatedly  the 
scourge  of  his  own  former  neighbors.  lie  was  unquestionably 
a  loyalist  from  |»rinciple,  else  he  would  scarcely  liave  hazarded, 
as  he  did,  and  ultimately  lost,  domains  lartxer  and  fairer  than 
jirobably  ever  beUmged  to  a  single  proj)rietor  in  Amciica, 
Willian  Pemi  only  excepted." 

Sabine  (I.,  .")Sl)  (tbserves:  "It  is  thought  that  lie  was  a 
conscientious  loyalist;  and  this  may  be  allowed.  He  lived  in 
a  style  of  luxury  and  splendor  which  few  country  gentlemen 
in  America  possessed  the  means  to  support.  His  domains 
were  as  large  and  as  fair  as  those  of  any  colonist  of  his  time, 
tlie  estate  of  Lord  Fairtltx  only  excepted;  and  wo  Americati 
ha/arded  more,  ])robably,  in  the  cause  of  the  Crown.  Faith- 
f'dnesf>  to  duty  Unerer  a  crime:  and,  if  he  sacrificed  his  home, 
his  fortune,  and  his  count)';/,  for  his  principles,  he  deserces 
admirutiun.  *  ♦  *  rpjj^,  conduct  of  the  Whigs 
towards  him  may  have  lieen  harsh,  and,  in  the  beginning,  too 
harsh  for  his  oft'ences." 

Tlie  iiiajority  of  tlioso  who  were  most  active  in  wronpj- 


jSir  John  Johnson. 


Xllll 


ing  tlio  family  of  Sir  William  Jolnisou  experienced  severe 
punislimeiit,  either  in  themselves  or  their  surrouiulings, 
and  the  consequences  of  their  injustice  threatened  to  undo 
the  woi'k  of  a  century  and  nuike  Schenectady  once  more  a 
frontier  town. 

Not  able  to  seize  the  man  (Sir  .lohn),  disaj)|»()intment 
determined  to  capture  a  woman.  The  victim  was  his  wife. 
Why?  The  answer  is  in  the  word?  of  aletttir  preserved  in 
the  series  of  the  well-known  Peter  Force,  which  says:  ''  It 
is  the  jreneral  oj»inion  of  peo[)le  in  Tryon  County,  that 
while  Lady  Johnson  is  kei)t  as  a  kind  of  hostage,  Sir 
tlohn  will  not  carry  nuitters  to  excess."  Lady  Johnson 
must  have  been  a  bold  woman  ;  for  even  when  under  con- 
straint, and  in  tlie  most  delicate  condition  that  a  woman 
(;an  be,  she  exulted  in  the  prospects  of  (piickly  hearing 
that  Sir  John  would  speedily  ravage  the  country  on  the 
Mohawk  river  to  redress  his  own  and  her  wrongs  and 
suffering.  To  quote  another  letter  from  the  highest 
authority,  "'  It  lias  been  hinted  that  she  is  a  good  se- 
curity to  prevent  the  effects  of  her  husband's  virulence." 

With  a  determination  even  superior  to  that  exhibited 
by  her  husband,  because  she  was  a  woman  and  he  a  man, 
Lady  Johnson  in  midwinter,  January,  1777,  in  disi?nise, 
made  her  escape  through  hardships  which  would  ai)])al  a 
person  in  her  position  in  tlie  present  day.  Through  the 
deepest  snows,  through  the  extreme  cold,  through  lines  of 
injxrates  and  enemies,  she  nuide  her  wav  into  the  loyal  city 
of  New  York.  Her  stoj-y  reads  like  a  romance.  Peoj^le 
cite  Flora  MacDoiuild,  Grace  Darrell,  Florence  Nightin- 
7 


!^ 


xliv 


iSlr  John  Jo/mson. 


:i 


^ak'.  \\v  liad  a  licroine  in  our  midst  who  displayed  a 
couruj^c  as  lofty  as  tlieirs;  but  slie  is  f'orirottcn,  because 
slu-  was  tlu'  wife  of  a  man  wlio  had  the  coura<^e  to  avenge 
lier  wrouiTs  even  upon  the  victors,  and  chastise  lier  ene- 
mies and  persecutors  as  well  as  his  own. 

It  was  intended  at  first  to  embody  the  w  ImjIc  of  Mrs. 
Colonel  Christopher  Johnson's  story  of  her  step-mother's 
wrongs ;  but  this  sketch,  as  it  is,  will  far  outrun  all  pre- 
vious calculation.  For  particulars,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  "i\i>pendices"  to  his  Address  before  the  Historical 
Society,  on  tile  there;  to  pages  7<)-.Sl,  "  History  of  New 
York,"  by  Judge  Thomas  Jones;  and  to  Note  XXXI. 
thereto,  bj  lulward  Floyd  de  Lancey,  Es(j.  The  conclu- 
sion of  the  story  of  her  escape,  after  she  had  parted  from 
lier  sister,  is  too  interesting  and  to(»  touching  to  be 
omitted. 


!(i 


"We  must  now  foHow  the  course  of  tlie  poor  dispirited, 
ugitJitod  mother,  who,  thougli  relying  nnicli  on  the  zeal  and 
tidelity  of  her  devoted  servants,  yet  felt  keenly  the  loss  of  her 
active  and  aftectionate  sister  [Antie  Watts,  afterwards  Countess 
of  Cassilis],  whose  stronger  healtli  and  spirits  were  sucli  an 
inestimable  support.  Poor  Tony's  [one  of  l)er  husband's  faithful 
negro  slaves,  wlio  risked  so  much  from  affection  for  the  tiunily] 
chief  ground  of  consolation  arose  from  the  conviction  that,  being 
so  very  near  the  British  lines,  they  conld  not  fail  of  reaching 
them — they  were  aln.ost  within  sight,  he  said!  Poor  fellow,  if 
strength  and  courage  could  have  insured  the  safety  of  his  mis- 
tress and  her  childi'en,  he  would  have  carried  them  or  Ibught  for 
them  till  he  had  drojjjjcd  ;  but,  as  resistance  to  sentries  was  out 
of  the  (juestion,  the  present  business  of  all  was  to  be  prepared 
to  exercise  self  command,  and  to  reply  with  composure  to  the 


t 


sir  John  '/ohnson. 


aIv 


questions  that  would  bo  asked.  Ft>rt»u)atel\ ,  (irove  House 
w!is  hut  ii  little  out  of  the  way  of  tlieir  real  destination,  and  as 
it  was  prolialile  in(juiries  niinlit  be  made  there,  it  woidd  not 
have  been  safe  ibr  tiietn  to  take  the  sk'iuh  on.  They,  therefore, 
stopped  at  the  cat  tie-shed,  a  little  distance  from  the  maiision, 
and  leaving  the  sleigh  antl  horse  there,  with  one  of  their 
heaviest  wrappings,  as  an  indication  that  they  intended  to 
return,  pursued  their  way  with  as  much  speetl  as  possible  in 
the  dnection  of  the  British  camp.  liy  means  (»f  tlieir  j)ass,  and 
avoidance  of  the  larger  bodies  posted  at  different  stations,  they 
went  on  uninteruptedly  to  the  end  of  that  day;  and  when  they 
reached  a  resting  place  for  the  night,  it  was  a  matt(>r  of  dee|) 
thankfulness  to  tind  that,  as  tlie  Continental  camj*  was  ))rotected 
on  that  side  by  a  wide  river  just  in  a  state  of  partial  thaw,  that 
remlered  the  crossing  it  dangeroiis  tor  individuals  and  imprac- 
ticable for  a  body  of  troops,  it  had  been  deemed  unnecessary 
to  keep  that  point  very  strictly  guarded.  They  etisily  Ibund, 
as  usual,  a  meal  ami  a  bed;  but  the  anxiety  of  the  Lady  was 
cruelly  .aggravated  by  the  state  of  her  infant,  who  depending 
enliiely  on  the  nourishment  derived  from  its  unfortunate 
moilier,  participated  in  her  physical  exhaustion  .-md  siitfi-riiig. 
The  elder  children,  too,  were  both  so  fagged  that  Tony 
.and  the  nui'se  were  obliged  to  carry  them  alnK)st  without  in- 
termission— so  that  the  poor  Lady  could  hardly  be  relieved 
from  the  buiden  of  the  iidimt.  They  rose,  thereibre,  the  next 
morning,  with  trend)rmg  frames  and  spirits,  their  sole  consola- 
tion being  that  they  were  but  two  miles  from  the  river;  yet 
liow  to  cross  it  was  a  question  that  could  only  be  solved  on  its 
baid'is.  While  taking  tlieir  bi'eaktast,  a  soldier  was  seen 
looking  about  in  the  i'vw  cottages  that  were  near  their 
refuge,  and  presently  he  came  in  to  them.  Ilajtpily  there  was 
no  sign  of  travelling  about  them,  and  supitosing  them  to  be 
the  e>^tablished  inhabitants,  he  began  explaining  his  business 
by  asking  after  sctme  peof)le  who  had  arrived  in  a  sleigh  driven 
by  a  black.     Most  fortunately,  also,  Tony  had  sejKirated  fiom 


1 


XlVI 


Sw  'Joint   Jo/in  son. 


tlicni,  :iii(l  was  tak'iiix  his  mcul  in  anotlKT  cottn^e.  The  solilier 
(lid  nut  s('<'ni  to  have  liccn  (lis|iatcliiMl  wiili  any  very  t'xact  or 
iniXi'nt  (lircciions ;  \n\\  liis  otMccr  linvinu'  n'ct'ivod  a  nu'ssairo 
from  tlu;  cainp  near  (Jiovi'  House,  to  incjiiirc  after  a  paity  who 
liad  ln'cn  expected  tliefe.  and  liad  not  aiaived,  sent  his  seivant 
to  uaiii  some  iidonnaiion  previons  to  the  ai'fiva!  of  nioro  j»ar- 
tieuiai"  instructions.  Takiiii;  the  liiu'iise  which  younu;  and  in- 
ex|)crienced  sohliers  are  apt  to  exercise,  of  nsini.''  the  ir  own 
judgment,  the  man  said,  'If  the  IJritishers  wore  scndiniif 
women  and  chihh'(>n  over  to  ns,  weM  send  them  hack  ]>retty 
smartly;  Itnl  if  any  of  the  stnpid  fcMows  who  are  takin<f  ohl 
George's  pav,  insti'ad  ol'  Ji^litinLT  for  their  eoimtrv,  have  a 
mind  to  have  their  wi\t's  with  them,  why,  I  say,  h't  'em  have 
the  keep  of  'em;  and  I  think  niy  captain  ihm't  much  ap- 
prove f)f  heini;  sent  woman-himiini;,  ami  not  even  a  written 
order.  However,  if  you  liear  anythinj^  of  'em,  yon  can  let  me 
know.  I'm  LToiui;  hv  the  lane  round  the  corner  out  there,  for 
I  l)elieve  there's  a  kiml  of  an  inn  to  he  found  ;'  ami,  so  sayin;^', 
he  wished  them  iroochhyi',  and  inarched  oil!  No  sooner  was 
he  out  <if  siijht  than  the  terrified  fi-niales  summoned  Tony,  and 
with  stops  (piiekoned  by  lear  sot  oft"  towarcls  tiio  river.  It  w  as  no 
great  distance,  and  on  reaching  it  the  state  of  the  ice  showed 
clearly  why  its  shores  were  not  very  earofully  guarded.  It 
nni>^t  here  he  remai'ked  that  the  danger  of  crossiuLT  a  river, 
partially  covered  with  ice,  is  dilfLMent  from  that  incuried  in  a 
milder  climate.  As  long  as  the  ice  lasts,  it  is  much  too  thick 
to  give  way  to  the  heaviest  weights  ;  hut  when  repeated  thaws 
have  loosened  it<  firm  adherence  to  the  shore,  it  breaks  into 
enormous  masses,  which,  driving  and  struggling  against  e.ich 
other,  and  the  force  of  the  current,  j)artially  icleased  from  its 
winter  bondage,  form  at  once  one  of  the  grandest  exhibitions 
of  N.ature,  and  threaten  fearfid  ]»ei'il  to  those  who  venture  to 
attein|»t  a  passage.  Hut,  like  most  dangers  to  whi(di  the  na- 
tives of  a  country  are  habituatcid,  they  often  risk  their  livt'S 
even  for  an  ineonsiilerable  motive,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to 


iSir  f/o/in  Jo/mmni. 


xlvii 


H«'('  a  Hloii^h  j)!vs8in<j  tlic  wolI-inarl\i'<l  i(»a<l  uvi-r  tho  ice,  wlilcli 
ill  two  lioiirs  alU'rwards  is  float inij  away  like  a  vast  fultl,  »m- 
l)rok('ii  till  it  craslu's  ai^ainsi  aiiotlu"'  mass,  w  licii  In.ili  pile 
upon  t-aeh  otlici-  in  awful  ^fi:uuloui",  till  luiMlu'r  a<MilioriH  sliovc 
tlieni  on  to  linal  desti  uclion. 

"By  the  side  of  a  miiility  stream  in  tins  state,  stand  tlic 
t'liLjitivrs,  liojti'ios.s  of  osc.apc,  and  supposinij;  that  the  Imur  has 
(•oine  when  tliev  must  vit'ld  themselves  liack  to  eaptivitv, — a 
hitter  anticipation  after  all  their  toils  and  dant,M'rs.  Tony's 
experienced  eye,  however,  ih'scrihed,  and  pointed  out  to  the 
Lady  that  the  »'entru  of  the  river  was  tolerahly  clear,  and  tliat 
if  thev  could  take  advantauc  f)f  one  of  those  nionients  when 
the  opposint;  masses  were  locked  aLralnst  each  other,  a  l»oat 
mi^rht  land  them  on  the  opposite  side.  I>iit  cotild  a  hoat  he 
found':'  V'es.  They  see  one,  and  a  man  in  it,  paddliui^  altout, 
apparently  seekinLj  a  safe  nook  wherein  to  hestow  his  little 
vessel.  Tony  chose  a  point  nearest  the  shore,  :ind  sprinu^inij 
over  lissiires  and  Hrm  pie(!es  of  ice,  succee>!ed  in  makinij  the 
m;m  hear.  He  was  one  of  those  liold,  careless  characters,  who 
ratlier  enjoyed  the  risk,  as  well  ;is  the  .ac(piirenM'iit  ol  the 
dollars  often  lavishly  liestowed  for  a  passage.  It  was  now  un- 
neces.sary  for  the  paity  to  feii>;n  poverty,  therefore  the  ijold 
hitherto  hi<lden  in  their  Lrarments  was  |»roduced,  aiul  each 
cairyini^  a  child  ma<le  their  way  with  infinite  lahor  and  peiil  of 
slippini;  to  the  frail  vessel,  which  was  to  he  guided  amonjjf 
tnasses  that  might  in  an  instant  he  in  inotion  to  crush  or  over- 
whelm them.  The  poor  Lady  clasjx'd  her  infant  closer  and 
closer  to  her  hosom,  not  venturing  to  speak  h-st  she  should 
withdraw  Tony's  attention  from  the  guidance  of  the  l)oat;  yet 
trembling  at  the  susj)ension  of  the  feeble  crii's  which  till  then 
had  wnnig  her  heart  with  anguish.  The  little  face  was  chilled, 
and  the  eyes  closed;  but  though  she  feai'ed  the  woist,  slie  yet 
hoped  that  it  was  but  the  sleep  of  exhaustion.  Half  :m-hour, 
wliich  seemed  an  inlerminable  period,  brought  them  to  th(^ 
opposite  shore.     The    British   tents    were    within    sight,    gold 


PI 


;lviii 


S/f    Jitjiit     Jo/msn/i. 


was  ihrtMMi  U)  the  iKiatiiiaii.  aiul  tlH»u<;li  tlio  snow  was  deep 
and  Kof't,  and  tlio  Lady  slai^gurt'd  with  wcakiu'ss,  slic  strutri'^Ied 
on  tlin)uu:li  a  niilo  wliich  yet  separated  them  from  the  first  line 
of  sentries.  Indians  were  the  first  who  spied  the  party,  and 
ihi>ui;h  tliey  received  with  tlieir  usual  composure  the  amiounce- 
nuiit  ol"  the  Lady's  na?ne,*  a  Lrlaiice  sent  ofV  two  of  their  num- 
ber towards  the  camp,  whik'  the  otiiers.  wi-appini:  some  furs 
around  tlie  Ladv  and  her  inliint,  Hfted  thetu  with  the  utmost 
care  and  tenderness  in  tlu-ir  jtowerful  arms,  till  lliey  were  met 
by  the  messengers  returninu  willi  blankets  an<l  mattrasses, 
hastily  formed  into  litters.  On  these  all  were  carefully  de- 
positet'  and  carried  on  swifHy  ;  Tony  weepintr  with  joy  and 
thankfulness  over  his  mistress,  and  tellini;  her  Sir  John  was 
(•ominii!  The  poor  mytlier  cast  one  hopeful  glance  towards 
the  distance,  and  another  of  anxiety  upon  her  infant,  who  just 
opened  its  little  eyes,  and  ere  she  could  see  that  it  was  the 
last  convulsion  of  the  siidiing  fianu',  she  was  clasped  in  the 
arms  of  her  liusl)and  and  borne  insensible  to  the  (juarters  of 
the  Commander-in-C'liief,  where  every  care  aiul  comfort  was 
bestowed  on  her  and  her  children  that  their  exhausted  state 
recpjired.  The  first  ilelight  of  being  restored  to  her  husband 
and  seeing  her  children  at  rest  and  in  safety  was  marre<l  by 
tlu'  anguish  of  missing  the  little  loved  one,  whotn  she  had  boi'iie 
through  so  nuu'h  sorrow  and  suffering.  'lint  a  few  hours 
sooner,'  she  tliought,  'and  my  pretty  one  had  been  saved.' 
But  the  joy  and  thankl'ulness  of  those  around  hers«>on  stilled  her 
rej)iiiing.  lloth  her  surviving  children  appealed  to  be  entirely 
restoied  to  health;  but  with  tlu'  little  girl   the  ajipearance  was 


*  Sucli  wastlic  affection  borne  by  tlie  "Six  Nations"  to  the  Johnson 
family,  that,  many  years  after,  when  the  writer'.s  father  visiicd  lliem, 
in  Canada.  ;iih1  wlun  tiic  survivors  of  this  once  inia'hty  Confederal l.)ii, 
'•  tlie  |{(  nuns  of  AiinTica,"  ieanied  tleit  lie  had  married  a  niece  of  bady 
Johnson,  they  adopted  him  with  theanectionate  pseudonym  (aeconli'iy; 
to  Sir  Wllliain  (Jeorjre  Johnsi  n.  Hurt.):  "  Saitat-t.^inou-iakion,"  sigiii- 
fyinj;,  in  siihslanec,  "  One  of  usy 


.SV/"     '/(J  fill      'lohllHOlt, 


XllN 


f'l 
it 


fMll.'icious.  After  the  first  week  lier  streiintli  iuid  appetiti' 
fleclined,  mikI  her  parents  ha»l  the  txrief  of  laviiij;  her  in  an 
untimely  grave,  from  the  tlestructive  effeets  of  eoM  and  ex- 
posure on  a  frame  previously  dehilitated  by  illness  durint;  her 
mother's  captivity,  when  she  eould  nut  jtrooure  either  advice 
or  proper  medicines."  ("  Adventures  of  a  F^aily  in  the  War  of 
Independence  in  America,"  paj^es  i").*)-?.) 

Tt  is  not  tlio  intention  (d'tliis  work  to  retlect  ijpi»ii,  or 
refer  to,  Revolutionary  ofticiuls  further  than  is  ahsoliitoly 
necessary.  Tlie  . I olinson  family,  tlie  loyalists,  their  friends 
and  advocates,  present  an  entirely  diH'erent  statement  of 
facts  from  those  which  may  be  styled  the  pojnilar  account, 
which  is  that  of  the  victors,  realizinu'  the  hitter  force  of 
the  prov(ud>  '"vve  viotis.'"'  The  jiidicnients  pronoinu^ed 
by  either  of  these  are  not  more  severe  in  tlieii-  (conclusions 
and  opprobrious  in  their  lani^uaue  than  the  terms  used  in 
the  various  accoimts  of  the  contests  between  the  settlers 
and  their  leaders  of  the  New  Ilaiupshire  (irants.  now 
Vermont,  and  the  authorities  of  New  York  and  their 
agents;  or  of  the  collisions  bi'tween  the  Connecticut 
settlers  and  their  chief-men  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  and 
the  "Pennamites  "  an<i  their  exectitives  seeking  to  enforce 
the  rights  of  the  Penn  Patentees  in  the  Suscjuehanna 
Valley,  or  of  the  Tnion  party  or  Loyalists  arui  the  South- 
erners during  the  "Slaveholder's  Rebellion''  iti  ISfll-.^and 
since. 

There  is  nothing  so  bitter  and  s[>itelul,  so  barbarous 
and  revengful  and  unforgiving  as  the  raiicor  and  re- 
course of  political  struggles  and  those  arising  from 
religious  antagonisms,  except  family  feu<ls.     The  conflict 


1 


Sir  f/o/i7)  Johnson. 


of  tlie  American    Itevolution   necessarily  partook  of  the 
nature;    of  all    three.      Presbvterianisin,   in    one   form    or 
another,  irave  eneru'v  to  the    Ilevolutionai'v  pai'tv,  while 
Episeopalianism  was,  as  a  rule,  the  creed  of  the  Koyalists  or 
Loyalists.     The  former  fouojlit  to  obtain  what  the  others 
enjoyed,   and   families  and   nei^'hhorhoods   were   divided, 
and  blood  poured  forth  like  water,  with  spiteful  savaireness, 
by  hands  whose  vigor  was  derived  from  the  same  veins, 
under  the  impulse  of  the  same  brains,  of  race,   kinman- 
ship  and  connection,  family  ties  and  associations.      This 
was  especially  exenii)lified    in   the  two  bloodiest  and  de- 
cisive  encounters   of  the  war,    King's   ^lomitain    at  the 
Soutb,  and  Oriskany  at  the  North.     In  the  Carolinas  and 
in  the  Mohawk  Valley,  mortals  on  both  sides  sometimes 
surpassed  demons  in  their  ennuty,  because  in  both,  par- 
ticularly in  the  latter,  fathers,  sons,  brothers,  cousins  and 
foimer  friends  exchanged  shots,  crossed  steel  and  a])j)lied 
the  torch.     Men  of  this  day  cannot  conceive  the  fei'lings 
of    that,   and   to   judge  the    Lovalists   or  Tories    bv   the 
stories  of  the  Kebels  or  Patriots  is  just  as  fair  as  to  credit 
the  charges  of  an  ultra  tii-e-eating  Southerner  against  Loyal 
n»en  and  the  invading  troops  of  the  L^nion.    Furthermore, 
if  the  fury  of  the  antagonism  in  the  Carolinas  eijualled 
that  in  New  York,  there  was  a  vast  contrast  in  the  legis- 
lation that  followed  the  jjcace.      The   Carolinas  excelled 
in  magnanimity  and  New  York  in   ungenerous   severity. 
There  the  offences  of  the  Loyalists  were  condoned  from 
respect  to  their  gallantry  and  convictions;  in  New  York 
the  consfiscations  and  penalties  were  continued  in  force 


*SV;'    Jn/iii     •foJillSo)). 


li 


and  the  Loyalists,  tnie-meii,  wci-c  coiiipelkMl   to  live  5in<l 
die,   as  a  rule,   in  ))o\c'i-ty,   ]»aiii,  t'xili-  and    |>r<»sc'i'ij)ti(jn. 

All  this  occnri'ud  prior  to  the  s])i'ini;'  of  1770. 

Sir  Guy  Carloton,  nndonhtedly  the  i^randest  cliaracter 
anionij;  the  JJritish  military  cliiet'tains,  at  this  time,  actinj^ 
indepen(U'ntly,  in  America,  received  Sir  John  with  open 
arms,  and  innncMliately  i;ave  him  opjtortunities  to  raise  a 
reijiment,  which  made  itself  know  and  felt  alon^  the 
fn »ntier,  thron_i:hout  the  wai'.  With  a  fatal  parsimony  of 
jndixment  and  its  application,  the  Crown  frittere(l  away 
its  strenirth.  in  some  cases  in  |)rotectini;  [trivate  or  vested 
interests,  and  never  accumulated  sutKcient  tro<»i>s  at  de- 
cisive |)(>ints  and  moments.  The  arrival  of  these  was  too 
often  delayed  and  even  afterwards  they  were  diverted  from 
objects  of  hiirhest  imjiortance  t<»  points  where  success  could 
produce  no  lasting  result.  In  1777.  when  I>ui'i;oyne  was 
preparini;  for  his  invasion  of  New  ^"oi-k  down  the  Hudson, 
St.  Leirer  was  entrusted  with  a  similar  advance  down  the 
^lohawk.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  an  al>le  strate^'ist  and  a 
brave  soldier,  but  an  indolent,  nervous  moi'tal,  and  an 
inefficient  commander,  recoi'ded  a  sagacious  opinion  on 
this  occasion — endorsed  l>y  Continental  Nathaniel  Greene — 
viz.,  that  to  St.  Le_u:cr  was  assii^ned  the  most  imj)ortant 
j»art  in  the  )»ro<i:rannne  with  the  most  inadecpuite  means 
of  carry iiiir  it  out.  To  play  this  part  successfully,  re- 
([uirfMl  a  much  lai'irer  force;  and  yet — to  take  a  fort  ,i:;arri- 
soned  by  at  least  7.'»"  (perhaj»s  IK")*!)  not  inelHcicnt  troops, 
with  sulHcient  artillery  (14  pieces  '.),  and  tii;ht  the  whole 
availabh'  i>opulation  of  Tryon  Comity  in  arms  Ijeside, — 
8 


Hi 


'^W    •Itmn    f/oluixtni . 


St.  I.c^t'v  lijul  not  iiiort'  tliaii  iiltoiit  41(»  wliilt-s  and  ;ni 
ji^r^r|(.oati,,ii  (,t'«!(i(i  to  ."^0(1  Indians  t'roin  'I'l  ditlcMent  tribes, 
iiatliered  IVom  tlie  remotest  jiomts  administered  i»y  llritisli 
tdHeers — oven  from  the  extreme  western  sliores  of  Lake 
Sn|ierior.  To  batter  this  foit  he  had  a  few  >mall  jtieees 
"f  ordnance,  whieli  wei-c  abont  as  efleetivi-  as  [ioj»-i:nns: 
and  were  >im|i|y  a<h<inate.  as  he  says  in  his  rejort,  ot' 
'•  teasini;"."*  withont  injiirinir  tlie  iiai'rison.  St.  Leber's 
seermd  in  command  was  Sir  Jolm  Jolinson. 

I''or  the  relief  of  Fort  Stanwix,  ^lajor  ((»ronly  r)ri<:adier) 
General  Ilarkheimer.  Sir  John's  old  anta«roni.-t,  gathered 
no  ail  the  valid  men  in  Trvon  eonntv.  variously  stated  at 
from  Sddaml  !Mi(i  to  10(M».  eon stitntina"  tour  embodied  re^n- 
iiients  of  militia,  besides  numerous  volunteers  of  all  grades 
and  standing,  a  few  mounted  men  (Ilotl'man),  and  some 
Oneida  Indians.  These  latter,  traitors  to  a  fraternal 
bond  of  centuries,  seemed  about  as  useless  to  their  new 
associates  as  they  were  faitldess  to  their  old  ties.  To  meet 
irarklieinier.  P>ri,iiadier-CTeneral  St.  Leijer  allowed  Sir  Jolm 
.iolins<»n  to  proceed   in  person  and  carry  out  the  able  }»lan 


conceived   l>v   the    latter.       It    is   n 


ow  clearly 


established 


beyond  a  doubt  that  his  ability  planned  and  his  determin- 
ation  foniiht  the  battle  of  Oriskanv.  Had  tlie  Indians 
shown  anything  like  tlu'  plnck  of  white  men,  not  a  Pro- 
vincial would  have  escajted.  In  spite  of  tlieir  inetficiency. 
Sir  Jo'tc's  whites  alone  would  have  accomplislied  the 
business   had    it    not  been  for    ''a  shower   (»f  blessing'' 


sent  bv  Providence. 


ai 


id  a  recall  to  the  assistance  of  St. 


L 


egei- 


As  it 'was,  this  wa.s  the   bloodiest  battle  of  the 


S/r   ./o/i/i    ■Ji>]<))xn}K 


llll 


lit'volutioii  at  tlie  Noi'tli.  liitlecisive  uii  the  ticld  of  battle, 
it  was  morallv  decisive  in  i-osults.  narklieiuK'i"  lost  liis  life, 
likewise  several  liinidrcMl  of  his  followers,  and  Tryoii 
County  siitt'ered  such  a  terrific  calamity,  that,  to  use  the 
inference  of  its  historian,  if  it  smiled  ai^ain  during  tlie 
war  it  smiled  throui^h  tears.  The  iron  will  of  Schuyler, 
another  old,  almost  lifedoiiii'  pei'sonal  and  [)olitical  antai^o- 
iiist  of  Sir  John,  sent  Arnold,  the  best  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution, to  save  Fort  Stanwix,  the  key  lo  the  Mohawk 
valley.  The  rajtid  advance  of  this  bi-illiant  leader,  an<l  the 
dastardly  conduct  and  defection  of  the  Indians,  preserved 
the  beleau'uered  work  ;  and  St.  Leuer  and  St.  .John  were 
forced  to  retire.  On  this  salvation  of  Fort  Stanwix  and 
Not  on,  pro})erly  speakinir,  lloosic  or  Walloomscoik,  mis- 
called Benninu'ton,  nor  on  Sarato^-a,  hinijed  the  fate  of  the 
Burgoyne  invasion  and  the  eventl'ul  certainty  of  indej)end- 
ence.     jVo  ]>art  of  the  failure  is  chargeable  to  Sir  flohn. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  English  war  administi'ation 
seemed  utterly  inadequate  to  the  occasion.  They  had  not 
l»een  able  to  grapple  with  its  exigencies  while  the  colo- 
nies were  "iloing  for  themselves,'"  as  jNfaz/.ini  exju'essed 
it.  When  France  and  Spain  entered  the  list,  and  JJur- 
goyne's  army  had  been  elinunated  from  the  war  problem, 
they  seem  to  have  lost  their  iieads ;  and.  in  17T>1,  aban- 
doned all  the  fruits  of  the  misdirected  efforts  of  their  main 
army.  The  nervous  (Minton  succeeded  t(j  the  indolent 
Howe  in  the  field,  and  the  uncertain  llaldinnind  to  the 
determineil  Carleton  in  Canada,  llaldinuind,  a  Swiss  l>y 
birth  and  a  veteran  by  service,  was  entirely  deficient  in  the 


liv 


Sn'  '/o/ut   '/tj/ui «'»/). 


j»i'it'«.'l('ss  jtracticiil  altilitics  in  wliicli  liis  |»r(.'dc'('ess(»r  cx- 
ct'lk'<|.  Those  who  knew  him  consicK-rod  him  an  oxct'Ilcnt 
in-otetij^ioiial  sohlicr,  l>ut  tor  administration  and  oriraniza- 
ti<»n  liis  uil'ts  wc'rc'  sniaU.  He  was  s(»  at'rai<l  tliat  tlir 
French  and  I'l-ovincials  woidd  invade  aixl  dismcnilicr  the 
remaininir  Hritish  possessions  in  Xorth  America,  that  hi- 
not  oidy  crijt[ded  Clinton  in  a  measure,  hy  constant  de- 
luaiuls  foi"  tr<t(»j)s,  hut  lie  wa.s  atVaid  to  entrust  such  hril- 
liant  }»ai'tisans  as  Sir  .lolm  Johns(»n  with  forces  sufiicient 
to  accom]>lish  anythinir  of  imj»ortance.  He  sutlere»|  i-aids 
wlien  he  should  have  launched  invasions,  and  he  kejit  al- 
most everv  availahle  comoanv  and  hattalion  for  tlie  defence 
<tf  a  territory,  which,  excej»t  in  its  jK»rts,  was  amply  pro- 
tectetl  l»y  nature  and  distance.  Washini;toii  })layed  on  his 
timi<lity  just  as  he  afterward  tiuirered  the  nervousness  of 
C'lint<in.  Thus  the  rest  of  1777.  the  whole  of  177s,  and 
the  p'eater  part  of  177!*  was  passe<l  liy  Sir  John  in  com- 
paratively comjiulsoi-y   inactivity.       IF 


e  was   undouh 


tedl' 


Itusy.  Hut  like  thousaiuls  of  human  efforts  which  cost 
>uch  an  expenditure  of  thou_i:ht  and  preparation,  hut  are 
fruitless  in  marked  results,   their  records    are    "  writ    in 


wateiv 


In  177{>  occurred  the  famous  invasion  of  the  territorv 


o 


f  tl 


le 


MX 


Nat 


n)ns    l»v 


Sull 


ivan. 


I 


n    one   sense   it  was 


triunipliant.  It  did  the  devil's  work  tlioroujrhly.  It  con- 
verted a  series  of  l»loomin<;  gardens,  teeming  orchards  and 
productive  fields  into  w'astes  and  aslics.  It  was  a  <li8grace 
to  developinir  civilization,  an<l.  except  to  those  writers  who 


worship   not 


thing   l)Ut   temporary  success,    it  called  forth 


S/i'    -/o/i/i     .l<t]aisnii . 


Iv 


some  of  tlie  most  scathini;  coiKU'riniatloiis  ever  itennod  l»v 
historians.  Wlu'ii  Mliito  men  soalj)  ami  tlay  Iiidiaiis.  and 
convert  tlie  skins  dt'  the  hitter's  thiirlis  into  l(oot-tf>j»s,  the 
(|Uestioii  sna'ii'i'sts  itself,  whicli  were  the  savaires.  the 
Continental  troops  or  tin-  Iinlians.  It  is  scarcely  an 
exa^^ireration  to  say  that,  for  every  Imlian  >lain  and 
Indian  lint  con^nnied  in  this  canipaiirn.  a  thousand  white 
men,  women  and  children  |>aid  the  i»enalty :  and  it  is 
almost  unexce|»tionally  adnntted  that  the  inextiniruishahle 
hatre«l  of  the  redskins  to  the  Cnited  States  dates  from 
this  raid  of  Sullivan,  worthy  of  the  Scottish  chief  who  smoked 
his  enemies  to  death  in  a  cavern,  »»r  nf  a  Pi-llissier,  a  St. 
Arnaml  or  a  Pretorius.  Shnmes,  in  hi>  ••  Hist»»ry  of  Sco- 
harie  Conntv."  X.  V.,  commentinij  on  Sir  John's  devasta- 
tions  in  Isso.  lemarks:  ''Thus  was  reven«red  the  destruc- 
tion <^»f  the  Indian  jiossessions  in  thi'  Chemunir  and  Txene- 
see  Valleys  the  year  hefore  Ity  Cieneral  Sullivan;  n'hiclt^ 
liiul  then  a  hlHtorkin,,  would  he  fox  ml  n  no  lixif  ijbtoinij 
picturi'.''' 

Sullivan's  ultimate  military  ohjective  must  have  heen 
Fort  Niatrara,  the  basis,  for  al'out  a  century,  of  inroads, 
French  and  Jiritish,  upon  New  York.  AVhy  he  did  not 
make  the  attempt  re(iuires  a  consideration  would  occujty 
nK)re  space  than  can  he  assiijned  in  this  memf»ir.  There 
were  adversaries  in  his  front  who  did  not  fear  po]>-^nn 
artillery  like  the  Indians,  and  were  not  to  be  dismayed 
by  an  ''ek\irant''  cannonade  as  at  Newtf»wn.  Ilaldi- 
mand  had  sent  Sir  J<^)hn  .lolmson  to  <»rgani/.e  a  body  <»f 
500  (N.    V.   Col.   Doc,   viii.,   T7I»)  white  troops,   besides 


!vi 


S/'r  JnJiii   ./o/nixntt. 


till'  Iinliaiis,  ami  tlu'st' wci'i-  rapidlv  comrntnitini;  (Stone's 
'•  lirandt,"  II.,  lo)  upon  Sullivan,  when  the  latfiT  cuunti-r- 


nuin 


•lied. 


jiK'ncau   historians   i^ivo    tlu'ii*  reasons    tor 


5? 


tliis  retreat;  IJiitish  writers  e.\|)iaiu  it  \ery  difrerently. 
In  anv  evi-nt  tin's  expedition  was  tlu-  last  inilitarv  eum- 
iiiand  eiiioved  1>\  Sullivan.  The  Sc-rii>ture  here  atl'ords 
an  expression  which  may  not  l)e  inaj)pli('al)le.  ••  lie 
dej>ai"ted  witliout  l>ein<;  desired. 

Sir  .lohn's  t'urther  au;i:ressive  niovenionts  were  ]»re- 
vented  l»y  the  early  setting;  in  (»t'  winter,  which  rendered 
the  navii^ation  (»t'  Lake  Ontario  to(»  danjicrous  for  the 
certain  dispatch  of  the  necessary  troops  and  ade<jnate 
suj'plies. 

The  diliirent  search  for  information  in  rei^ard  to  tin- 
details  <»f  the  m(»ven>ents  upon  this  frontier,  has  been 
hitherto  hatHed.  Accordin:^:  to  a  I'eliable  contemj)orary 
record.  Sir  flohn  .lolinson.  Col.  I'utler  and  Cai>t.  Brandt 
cajttured  F<»rt  Stanwix  on  the  'liX  of  Novend»er,  177l». 
This  is  the  onlv  a^i::ressivo  oiieration  of  the  veai"  attributed 
to  liim. 

In  17>»<>  Sir  .lohn  was  u'iven  head,  or  let  loose,  and  he 
made  the  imtst  of  his  time.  In  this  vear  he  nuide  two 
incursions  into  tlie  ^Mohawk  N'allev,  the  first  in  May  and 
the  second  in  October. 

There  is  a  verv  curious  circumstance  connected  with 
the  first  of  these  raids.  The  burial  of  his  valuable  plate 
and  papers,  and  the  jruardinu-  (»f  the  secret  oi'  this  <leposit 
by  a  faithful  slave,  althou»2;h  sold  into  the  hands  of  his 
master's  enemies:  the  recovery  of  the  silver  throuijh  this 


*SV/'   Juliit    fliiJinsini. 


Ivii 


faitlit'ul  ne<rr(),  jumI  the  transport  of  tlie  treasures,  in  tlie 
knapsacks  of  forty  soldiers,  through  the  wilderness  to 
Canada;  has  l»een  related  in  so  many  bo(»k8  that  there  is 
no  need  of  a  repetition  of  tlie  details.  One  fact,  however, 
is  not  generally  kn<nvn.  Tlii-ouuh  danii>ness  the  ]>aper8 
had  heen  wholly  or  ['artially  destroyed;  and  this  may  ac- 
(MMint  for  a  irreat  many  ,i;aj>s  and  involved  ([uestions  in 
narratives  connected  with  the  .lohiison  family.  The 
"  treasure-trove  "'  eventually  was  of  no  service  to  him. 
(iod  nuiketh  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  Ilim;  and  al- 
thonirh  Sir  John  was  the  rod  <>f  His  an^er,  the  staff  of 
His  indij^'nation  and  tlie  weapon  of  His  venu'cance  for  the 
injustice  and  harharisms  shown  hy  the  Americans  to  the 
Six  Nations,  hut  especially  duriui:;  the  precedinii;  year,  the 
instrument  was  not  allowed  to  profit,  personally,  hy  the  ser- 
vice."'' The  silver  and  other  articles,  retrieved  at  such  a  cost 
of  j)eril,  of  life,  of  desolation  and  of  sufferinj!:,  was  not  des- 
tined to  henetit  anyone.  What,  amid  tire  and  sword  and 
death  and  devastation,  had  heen  wrenched  from  the  enemy 
was  placed  on  shiphoartl  for  conveyance  to  Knu-land,  and, 
bv  the  "-ironv  of  fate,"  the  vessel  foundered  in  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  and  its  precious  freight,  like  that  described 
in  the  "  Nibeluniren  Lied,"  sank  into  the  treasury  of  so 
much  of  earth's  richest  s^xtils  and  possessions,  the  abyss 
of  the  sea. 


*  According  tounothrr  triulition — as  iitllr  nlinblc,  jiciiiaps,  ai<  such 
Ici^cnds  usiuilly  aro — tlic  vessel  did  nut  foiuider.  hut  was  captured  l)y  a 
New  Eutjland  privateer  out  ot'Saleni,  Mass.  .Vnotiier  lei,a'nd  attributes 
Sir  Joini's  ill  hu  k  and  loss  to  a  Freueli  letter-ofmarciue. 


Iviii 


iSV/'  Jftlni  JoJuiHoii. 


'riicri'  is  ;i  ciiiious  Imt  rnin|iloti'  moral  in  tin-  (•iiicci'  of  Sir 
.loliii  .I(^linsoii.  Those  \\li»)  (Viiin  jiiirt'ly  scllisli  inotivt's  por- 
seciitiMl  liiiii  for  liis  .'Kllicrciicc  to  the  crown — loyal  from  piiit- 
i'iplc  and  sim|ily  slrivinu'  to  save  his  own  ;  perished  or  sMtferol 
some  other  Just  |iunishnu'nt.  Nevertheless,  Sir  .lojni,  the  in- 
strument of  their  ehastisenuMit,  did  not  piolit  liy  his  sueooss  to 
tliecxtent  of  reifainiiiLj  his  own,  throuuli  his  triuni|ihant  retalia- 
ti(»ii  Mjioii  his  enemies.  Tlio  course  and  eonse(jiienco  ol"  the 
wlioU'  original  wron^-dointj  and  leprisals  realized  tliu  prophecy 
of  Isaiah,  to  the  elfcct  that  when  the  Lord  had  performed  his 
■whole  Work  u|)on  .Fudah,  lhi-oui,di  the  Assyrian,  "  the  rod  of  his 
anuer  and  tlie  stall" ol  his  indij^niation,"  he  declari'd  that  in  turn 
\w  would  punish  the  instrument,  hecaiise  he  had  excee<lcd  his 
commission  and  made  it,  as  it  were,  a  personal  matter.  .ludah, 
the  Whiles,  were  to  bo  scourged  to  the  l»one  foi'  their  sins,  hut 
the  Hail,  the  Loyalists,  were  not  to  proiit  personally  l»y  it.  This 
is  just  alxnit  the  view  that  tlic  Injnest  Sahine  takes  of  the 
mIioIc  mattei"  and  agrees  with  the  exjiression  of  Zechariah, 
that  <iod  was  "sore  disideased"  with  those  whom  he  employeil 
to  execute  his  punishment,  because  he  "was  but  a  little  dis- 
])leased,  and  thi'y  helpi'd  forwaivl  the  affliction."     So  it  is  ever, 


ali 


is,    m 


tl 


ns    witrltl 


As    h 


cclesnisticus    impresses    upon    its 


I'eaders,  there  is  an  existiuif  and  unerrini;  law  of  c,om|)ensalion. 
The  |iendulum  of  what  "will  be"  sweeps  far  to  the  rij^ht,  but 
the  law  of  "must  be"  gravitates  and  the  momentum  brings  it 
back  as  far  to  the  left;    and  thus  it  swings,  to  and  fro,  as  loner 


n' ' 


ir 


as  the  impetus  of  cause  .and  result  continues  to  exert  tin 
forces  ;  like  a  thousand  agencies,  great  and  small,  scourging 
ihe  worlil:  the  west  like  Attila,  the  east  like  Tamei'lane;  a 
(•ontinent,  Eui'o]»e,  like  Napoleon,  or  a  country  aj)art,  Italy, 
like  Ilannilt.al;  a  p)"oviiice,  as  the  Lowlands  oi"  Scotlaiul,  like 
Montrose,  or  a  district,  the  ^lohawk  and  Schoharie  Valleys, 
like  .Johnson.  When  the  mission  is  fiillilled  and  the  victims 
liave  suffered,  the  .agent  perishes  or  the  Instrument  is  laid  .aside  ; 
the  former  often  tlying  i)eaceably,  trampiilly,  trustingly;  be- 
cause, howi'ver  man  mav  judge  the  act,  it  is  God,  alone,  who 


Sf'r  -/o/nt  JolitiHOh. 


lix 


I 


<':iii  J'hIljl'  tilt'  motive,  wliicli  is  (»lt«Mi  liilulity  ti>  |»iinci|»le,  ptire 
Mild  siiiiplc,  and  ;ui  cxrcutioii  in  riuid  ulicditMit'c  !<»  a  law  that 
linnianity  cannot  coni]  iclu-nd,  Men  in  tlicir  wratli  sow  the 
wind  to  reap  the  whirlwind  of"  the  passions  they  arouse.  The 
Whiles  of  the  Mohawk  N'alh'y  worke<l  tlu'ir  will  npon  the 
Tories  in  I77(>,  and,  if  the  day  of  evil  liad  not  been  nu'rcifully 
shortened  for  them,  the  rich  di>ti'ict  they  coveted  wonld  have 
been  left  to  them  a  deseit. 

It  is  said  that  Sir  dolm's  second  invasion  of  this  year 
was  co-ordinate  witli  tlu-  plan  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  of 
Avliicli  the  basis  was  the  suri'ender  of  West  Point  by 
Arn<»l<l.  if  so,  the  former  boi-e  to  the  latter  tlic  same 
relation  that  tin-  advance  of  St.  Leuer  did  in  resj)ect  to 
I3tiri;ovne.  St.  lu-irer's  faihire  bm-st  the  eonibinod  move- 
nient  of  1777;  and  the  capture  of  the  unfortunate  An<lre 
cxphtded  the  conception  of  17>'<>.  Thus  Sir  .lohn's  movt;- 
nient,  whicli  was  to  have  been  one  of  a  irrand  military 
series,  unha]t)iily  for  his  rejmtation  became  an  apparent 
"mission  of  veui^eance,''  executed,  however,  with  a 
tlM)rou<;liness  which  was  felt  far  beyoinl  the  <listrict  upon 
which  the  \  isitation  came — came  in  such  a  terrible  guise, 
that  a  hundrt!(l  years  have  scarcely  weakenetl  the  bitter- 
ness of  its  memories.  Whatever  else  may  be  debited  to 
him,  it  can  bi'  said  ot'  .lohiison.  as  of  certain,  but  few, 
other  honest,  earnest,  Loyal  men,  wlio  have  otlendi'd  the 
masses,  that  he  did  his  work  ettectively. 

Even  in  17^1  Sir  dolm  was  still  a  menace  to  the  frontier. 
Att'airs  in  New  York  and  Vermont,  alom;  Lake  Champlain, 
were  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  condition.  All  the  assist- 
ance that  could  be  ho|>ed  for  from  France  was  directed  tt> 


Ix 


•>//'   . 


litJtH     J(l/l 


utmni. 


aiKtflicr  and  a  <Iistaiit  iiiiai'ttr.  'I'lic  very  districts  «»t'  New 
^  (»rlv  wImcIi  had  rallied  to  (tpjtosc  I'liriroyiic  and  his 
liciiti'iiaiits,  \\('i-f  disatrccti'd.  "  Thi- jxiisoii  was  activt-ly 
at  \v<»rk  cNcii  in  Alhaiiy."  At  this  time  an  cxitoditioii 
was  iiK'ditatt'<l  aijainst  l*ittsliiir<;h,  to  Ix'  h'd  l»_v  Sir  .lohn 
.lohnson  and  Colonel  Connelly,  in  connection  with  com 
l»inations  ainon<x  the  hostile  Indians  nior**  extensive  than 
any  I'revionslv  set  (»n  toot.  Whv  these  all  failed  is  anion<r 
the  nnsolved  enigmas  of"  the  Itevolntion.  It'they  <lej)ende«l 
on  (ieii.  Ilaldiniand,  the  explanation  is  clear,  lie  luul 
not  snrticient  activity,  either  of  mind  or  body,  to  hold  the 


wii-es.  nuicii   less  to   |iiill  them  with  tlie   rtMnnsite  energy. 

Althouirh    scarcely    one    hnndred    years    have    |»assed 

away  wince   the  events  considered    in    this  sketch,   there 

are  almost  as  contlictin^-  acconnts  (»f  the  personal  a|)|a'ar- 


ance  of  Sir  .John  as  there 


ai'e   antaironistic  jnd:      v'nts  in 


resjK'ct  to  his  character.  Wy  some  lu'  has  hem  repre- 
s<'nt»  d  as  (»ver  six  feet  in  heiirht ;  hy  others  as  not  taller 
than  the  oi-dinary  rnn  of  men  in  his  district.  I)(»uhtle8s 
in  matnri'  years  he  was  a  stont  or  stalwart  titrnre,  and 
this,  always  at  least  to  some  extent,  detracts  from  heiijlit, 
and  deceives  unless  everything  is  in  exact  ])rop(»rtion.  The 
only  likeness  in  existence,  sai<l  to  he  of  him,  which  is  in 
accordance  with  descriptions,  is  a  red  stipple  eni^ravinu'  <»f 
F.  Bai'toloz/,i,  K.  A.,  that  apj)eared  in  some  contemi)orary 
pnblication,  representini:;  him  in  nnitorm.  It  is  not 
inconsistent  with  tlie  pictures  of  him  at  a  nioi-e  advanced 


aire 


ordinarily 


•roduce 


in    \v( 


Il-k 


nown    recent   works. 


SVV  Jo/th   'lolutHim. 


l\l 


Tlii'sc.  lidwc'vor,  iv^  .11  till'  {'uHtutiK*  iiikI  fxpit'ssion,  si'imu 
t(»  liuve  Ih'i'Ii  takt'ii  \\\  ti  luucli  later  dutu.* 

Hv  liis  iiivctcratt'  lu'i'i'ditarv  ciKMiiit's  and  liisttirians, 
s(»  stvli'il,  who  havf  adopted  ti-aditiunary  bins  as  tact. 
Sir  .I<diii  has  hocii  ''(U'scrilnMl  as  coM,  hau^htv,  cnul  and 
iiiij)hical»U'.  uf  (|iu'sti(»iialdi'  "  courair^',  .  d  with  a  teehk' 
sense  ot"  personal  honor,  Mr.  Wiliiaii  ('.  I>rvant,  in  his 
athnirahle  l)io;;raphical  sketch,  <lisj>oses  ot"  this  repulsive 
pictiirf  with  a  sinirle  hom-st  sentence:  "Tlu'  detested 
title  of  y'^r//,  in  tact,  was  a  sviioiiyni  tor  all  these  nn- 
ainialtle  (pialities." 

According  to  a  recently  t'onnd  sketch  of  ('hark'ston, 
South  (.'arolina,  pultlislie(l  in  is.")4,  it  would  ap})ear  that 
every  American  opposed  to  I''rench  .lacohinisni  was  sti_u"- 
niati/.ed  as  an  aristocrat  ;  and  when  Washinijtttn  ap[)roved 
of  .lay's  treaty  of  1 7!>5,  six  prominent  advocates  of  his 
policy  were  hun^  in  cHi^y  and  polluted  with  every  nuirk 
of  indignity;  then  hurned.  Kven  the  likeness  of  Wash- 
ington, at  full  length,  on  a  sign,  is  rejiorted  to  have  heen 
much  abused  by  the  rabbU'.  These  patriots  experienced 
the  same  treatment  accorded  to  the  character  of  Sir  John. 
The  procession  at  PoughkiH'j)sie,  in  this  State,  to  ratity 
the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  came  near  end- 

*  Mr.  <1('  LiiiU'py,  ut  piijrc  r»4'J  (Note  Iv.),  Vol.  2,  appended  tn  Jones' 
"  History  of  Xew  Yurk,"  A:e  ,  furnishes  a  deseri|>ti(»ii  of  Sir  .loiin, 
which  laliic'  e.xactiy  with  tlic  colored  eiiirraviiij;  by  Harlolo/.zi,  in  the 
writer's  possesHion,  which  has  heen  reproduced  for  tliis  work. 

"  He  wasa  handsome,  wellujade  man,  a  little  short,  witii  blue  eyes, 
lii,dit  liair,  a  fresh  eompUxion,  and  a  firm  l)Ut  i)leasanl  exj)re8hion. 
He  was  ((ulck  and  decided  in  disposition  and  manner,  and  posses.sed 
of  jrreat  endurance." 


I  Ml 


>'//'    Jit/iil    'I oil  It  Si  til. 


iiit:'  ill  I'Nxxlslu'd.  Any  oir'  (i]»j)f  r<!  t«»  sluvory,  wlicii  it 
existed,  risked  liis  lite,  south  of  ■  Miisoii  and  I)ixoirs 
line,*''  if  lie  uttered  Ids  sentiments  in  pul)lie.  No  virtues 
would  lijive  saved  liini  from  violence.  ( )n  tlie  other  hand, 
tliero  Wi'i-e  classes  and  communities  at  the  North  who 
would  not  concecU'  a  redeeminir  ((iiality  to  a  slaveholder. 
f*assioii  inteusilies  jiuldic  ojtiiuon.  The  masses  never 
rcHect. 

jlei'e  let  a  distincti<tn  lie  drawn  which  verv  few,  even 
llnnkin^  persons,  duly  appi'i-ciate.  The  rahhle  are  not 
the  |te<ti»U'.  Knox,  in  his  '*  Races  of  Men,"  draws  this 
distincti(»n  most  ch'arly.  And  yet  in  no  couiirry  to  such 
an  extent  as  in  the  Inited  States  is  this  mistake  so  often 
made.  ( )ld  lioine  was  styl- .1  hy  its  f»wn  liest  thinkers 
and  annalists  ''the  cesspool  of  the  world:"'  and  if  any 
UKxh-rn  State  deserves  this  scathing'  imputation,  it  is  this 
very  Stat«'  of  New  \'ork.  ('Miiiit  Tallyrand-I'eriirord  sai<l 
that  as  lon<^  a  there  is  suflicii'ut  vii'tue  in  the  thinkintr 
classes  to  assimilate  what  is  <ro(»(l,  and  reject  what  hs 
vi.'ious  in  iimniirration,  there  is  true  |»roi;ress  an<l  real 
|>r<»sperity.  When  the  p<»ison  hecomes  suj)erior  to  the 
resistive  am'  assimilative  power,  tlie  descent  hetiins.  It 
is  to  pander  t<»  the  rahhle.  not  the  people  that  men  like 
Sir  .f<»lin  Johns(»n  are  misrepresented.  Such  a  course  is 
politic  for  (u-mairoijues.  To  them  the  Mtteraiu-c  of  the 
truth  is  suicidal,  hecaiise  they  oidy  could  exist  tlirouj;li 
perversions  worthy  of  a  Machiavelli.  They  thrive  tlirouch 
political  .lesuitism.  The  Roman  poj»ulace  were  main- 
tained   an<l    restrained    hy    '' juDnni    <t  rirrmcts.'*     The 


>//'   John    '/oh II. sail. 


Ixiii 


Imlk  <tf  iiiodeni  votcM'S  tt-cd  like  tiK'iii— to  usi'  tlio  Seri|)tiiro 
t'Xpi'i'ssioii — on  tlio  wind  of  (U'lusinn  ;  and  it  is  tliis  niotliod 
<it'  portrjiitiiiH'  which  I'liahk'*!  Local  Committees  to  strike 
down  Sir  .loiin  .lohnson,  confiscate  his  ])rc)])ert_v  and  drive 
him  toi'tli,  and  ••Iiin<;>"'  to  carrv  out  their  |tur[»uses  in 
our  \erv  nddst  to-day. 

Peoj)U'  ol'  the  present  [lerifxl  can  scarcely  conceive  tlio 
virulence  of  vittiperation  which  characterized  the  political 
literature  ol"  a  cenlurv  sinci'.  Ifoiiirh,  in  his  "" Xorf/n r/i 
/)ii'(is/o/i/'  has  a  n»te  on  this  suhject  which  applies  to 
every  similar  case.  The  ijist  of  if  is  this:  The  opinions 
of  local  po[)ulations  in  reirar<l  to  prominent  men  ut're  en- 
tirely hiased,  if  not  founde(|  u|)on  their  jtopularity  or  tlu^ 
reverse.  If  modern  times  were  to  jutlu'c  of  the  character 
of  Ilannil>al  hy  flu;  pictures  haiuled  down  liv  the  irravest 
of  Roman  historians,  he  would  havt'  to  he  I'cuardeil  as  a 
man  destitute  of  almost  every  redeeunuir  trait  except 
couraire  and  ahiliry  or  astuteness:  whereas,  when  the 
truth  is  sifted  out.  it  is  positively  certain  that  the  very 
vices  atfrihute<l  to  the  tri'eat  ('arfha,i;inian  should  he  trans- 
ferri'd  to  his  Latin  adversaries. 

Sir  .lohn  was  n(»t  c<>ld.  lie  was  one  of  the  most  allec- 
tionate  of  men.  Mr.  l>ryant  fells  us  that  he  was  not 
"hautchty, "  hut,  on  tl..  contrary,  displayecl  (pudities 
which  are  totally  incotisistent  with  this  defect.  "His 
numners  were  peculiarly  mild,  irentle  and  wimnn<jr.  He 
was  remarkahlv  fond  <»f  the  s(»cietv  of  clnldren,  who, 
with  their  uuirv<'llous  insiiiht  info  character,  hestowcd 
upon    him    the  full  measure    of  their  un(|ueslioninL''  love 


Ix 


IV 


W/' 


'/oil II    -/o/ili-siiii . 


and  t'aitii.  IK'  was  al>«>  urcatly  attaclu'd  t<»  all  <l<»iii(.'stic 
animals,  and  notaMy  vcit  huniaiu'  and  tefHk-r  in  liis  treat- 
ment of  tlioni."  Anotliei-  writiT.  commenting  npon  these 
traits,  remai'ks  :  "  His  peeuliar  cliaiacti'risticdt"  ti'iideniess 
to  cliildi'iMi  and  animals,  makes  nu'  think  tliat  the  stoi'ies 
of  his  inhunumitv  diiriiii;'  the  War  of  the  Ilevcdntion  can- 
not he  true." 


II 


e  Mils   .\o|- 


(•rue 


A  nnmher  of  anec<lot('>  arc  re 


lated  to  tlie  contrary  hy  hose  not  pccidiariy  favorahlc 
to  him.  Tliese  in  themselves,  recorded  as  they  are  hy 
j>ai'tisans  of  a  ditfei'cnt  order  ot"  tldnirs  to  those  i'ej)re- 
sented  hy  the  .lohiisons,  are  sufficient  to  I'aise  stronjj:  doiihts 
of  till'  truth  of  the  chari;-es  hrouirht  against  him,  excn  if 
they  do  not  positively  di.-prove  such  a  swee|)ini;  judii'ment. 

The  honest  Hryant  j>enned  a  [larairraph  which  is  j>erti- 
nent  in  this  connection. 

"Sir  John,   certainlv,    inherited    immv    of  tlu'  virti 


les 


w 


hich  shed  lustre  uj)on  his  father's  lumie.  His  devotion 
t(  the  interests  of  his  iXov(M*nment :  his  energetic  and  en- 
lightened admin.istration  of  important  trusts;  his  earnest 
chamj»ionshij>  of  the  harl.arous  race  which  looked  up  to 
him  as  a  father  and  a  tViend  ;  his  cheerful  sacrifice  of  a 
princely  fortmie  and  estati'  <»n  what  he  conceived  to  \)v 
the  altar  of  patriotism,  connot  he  controverted  hy  tlu' 
most  virulent  of  his  detractors.  The  atrocities  which 
were  j»ei'petrated  hy  the  invading  forces  under  his  com- 
mand are  j)recisely  tho>e  which,  in  our  annals,  have 
attached  a  stiirma  to  the  names  of  Montcalm  and  liur<;t)vne. 
To  restrain  an  ill-(liscij>lined  rahhle  of  e.xiled  Tories  and 


•Sff    '/o/i/i    '/tjt/i.sn/i. 


I\V 


nitliU'ss  savii^jcs  was  hcydiid    tlu>    power    <>t'  iiicii   wlmsc 
limiianitv  lias  iu'vit  in  otlici-  instaiiccs  hccii  (iiicstioiiol."' 

The  iiiajoritv  of  writers  al)S(ilv('<l  Montcalm-,  and 
l>uriro_viu'  (lisclainuMl,  and  alnM»st  coiicliisively  ]»ro\«,'(l, 
thai  lie  was  not  resj>onsil>le  tor  the  (•liai"_ii:«'>  hrouijht 
airainst  him  hy  the  i^randilotjuent  (iates  and  others,  who 
did  n(»t  hesitate  to  di-aw  upon  their  inmiii nation  to  make 
a  |ioinf.  Sir  .lohn.  with  his  own  lips,  declared,  in  reirard 
to  the  ciMU'Jties  sulli'i'ed  hy  tlii'  Whites  dnrini;  his  tirst  in- 
road, that  "theii-  Tory  neii^hltors,  and  not  himselt",  were 
Itlamahle  for  those  acts."  It  is  said  that  Sir  .lohn  mu'-h 
reirretteil  the  death  of  those  who  \vei*e  esteenu-d  Iiv  hi^ 
father,  an<l  censured  the  muiMJerer.  Hut  how  was  he  to 
puinsh  I  Can  the  I'nited  States  at  this  day,  with  all  its 
|iower.  punish  the  individiud  perpetratoi's  of  cruelties 
alonii'  tlu'  Western  iVontiei'  and  amoui;  the  Indians  f  it  is 
justly  reiuarkecl  that  if  the  *"Si\  Nations"  had  an  his- 
torian, the  Chemunir  and  (Jeiiesee  valleys,  desolaled  hy 
Sullivan,  would  ]>resent  no  less  i^lai'inir  a  |»icture  than  of 
those  of  the  Schoharie  and  Mohawk,  which  expeiienced 
the  visitations  of  Sii-  .lohn.  lie,  at  idl  events.  oi-(lei'e<| 
churches  and  other  l»uildiui;s,  certainly  the  hoiises  of  nonn- 
luil  friends,  to  he  spare<l.  Sullivan's  ven_i;eance  was  indis- 
criminate, and  left  nothing  standinjLT  in  the  shape  ot"  a 
liuildinir  whi<*h  his  tires  could  reach.  Sii-  .lohn  more  tlian 
once  interposetl  his  disciplined  fi'oops  hetween  tlu^  savaires 
and  thi'ir  iutende*!  victims,  lie  redeemed  captives  with 
his  own  moiu-y  ;  and  while  without  contradiction  he  pun- 
ished a  unilfv  district  with  ndlitarv  execution,  it  was  not 


Ixvi 


Sff    ./o/i/i    •/o/i/t,Si)/l. 


<liiH'('t('(i  liy  Ills  onlcrs  nr  couiitiMuiiK'O  Uiraiiist  individuals. 
IIoii<;li,  for  liimsi'lt".  and  (juotiiii;  otlici-s,  admits  that  "no 
violcnct'  was  otrcrnl  \<i  women  and  children."  Tht^'e  is 
nothinir  on  record  or  hinted  to  show  that  he  refused 
mercy  to  ]trisoners;  no  instance  ol'  what  was  terine(l 
*•  Tarh'ton's  (juartei-"  is  citeil ;  nothinir  like  tlie  wlioiesah' 
slanu'hti'r  of  'r<»ries  l»y  Whi::>  at  the  South  whenever  the 
h'ltter  ir<»t  tlie  chance  or  u|»)»erhand  :  no  suniuuii'v  han:.''in;i>: 
of  |»risoners  as  at  ixinu's  Mountain;  and  it  is  wry  (|ues- 
ti(»iuilde  if  cohl-hh>ode(l  jn'cuhition  in  the  American  ad- 
ministrati\e  corps  did  not  kill  olf  incalcidahly  mori'  in 
the  course  of  a  siuLde  camjKiiirn,  than  fell  Jit  the  hands  ot' 
all.  white  and  reil,  <lirected  l»y  .Iohnsf)n.  <lurinir  the  war. 

.As  to  the  epithet  '*  imphu-alile,"  it  amounts  to  nolhiii<;. 
To  the  masses,  anyone  who  ]»unislies  a  majority,  cmmi 
temperiuii'  justice  with  mercy,  j)ro\  ided  he  moves  in  a 
sphere  al»o\t'  the  plane  of  those  who  ar(>  the  suhji'cts  of 
the  tliscipline,  is  always  eonsi<lei-ed  not  oidy  unjust  hut 
cruel.  The  patriots  or  ri'hels  ofTryon  county  had  wc^rked 
their  w  ill  on  the  lihei'lies  of  the  family  and  the  jiroperties 
of  Sir  .lohn  .lohnsoii  ;  and  he  certainly  iiave  them  a  i;ood 
deep  draniiht  from  ihe  irohlet  they  had  oriirinally  forced 
upon  his  li]>s.  He  did  not  live  u|>  to  tlu'  Christian  code 
which  all  nuMi  }»reach  and  no  luaii  practices,  and  assuredly 
did  not  turn  the  other  clu'i'k  to  the  smiter,  oi"  oiler  his  cloak 
to  him  who  had  alri-ady  stolen  his  coat.  Will  any  uni)reju- 
4lici'<l  pi-rson  deny  that  there  was  liieal  Justilicalion  for  his 
<'onducl.  The  masses  a  century  since  and  previous  could 
uuderstanti  nolliim:'  thai  wa>  not  l'ioUi:ht  home  to  them  in 


sir  ./o/m  Johnson. 


Ixvii 


letters  of  tire  jitkI  of  sut}erin<jf.  Their  conipjissioii  juul  tlieir 
furv  were  both  the  bhi/,e  of  straw  ;  and  tlieir  ei'iiclty  was 
as  eiKhiriiiu"  as  the  lieat  ol"  red  hot  steel,  especially  when 
their  passions  were  thoroughly  excited  in  civil  and  reli- 
gious contlicts. 

There  is  oidv  (tne  more  charge  against  Sir  John  to  dis- 
jiose  of,  viz.,  that  "his  courage  was  cpiestionahle."  The 
accusation  in  regard  to  his  having  a  "feeble  sense  of  j)er- 
sonal  honor"  rests  n|)on  the  stereotyped  fallacy  in  regard 
to  the  violatioTi  of  his  pande.  This  has  already  been 
treated  of  and  declared,  by  experts,  to  be  nnsustained  by 
justice.  In  fact,  Mr.  Edward  Floyd  de  Lancey  has  ])roved 
that  he  did  not  tlo  so.  In  this  (connection  it  is  necessary 
to  cite  a  few  more  pertinent  words  from  the  inijiartial 
William  ('.  I'ryaiit.  This  author  says:  "'Sir  .John's 
sympathies  were  well  known,  and  he  was  constrained  to 
sign  a  pledge  that  lie  would  remain  neutral  during  the 
struggle  then  impending.  Tliert;  is  no  warrant  for  su})- 
posing  that  Sir  .I(diTi,  when  lie  submitted  to  this  degrada- 
tion, secretly  <letermined  to  violate  his  promise  on  the 
convenient  plea  of  duress,  or  upon  grounds  more  rational 
and  (luieting  to  liis  conscience.  Tlu»  jealous  espionage  to 
which  he  was  afterwards  exj)osed — the  plot  to  seize  upon 
his  j)erson  and  restrain  his  liberty — doubtless  furnished 
the  coveted  pretext  for  breaking  taith  with  the  'rebels.'  " 

Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb,  wliose  "  History  of  Xew^  York" 

is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  protluctions  of  the  age,  writ 

ing  with  the  bias  of  an  American,  btit  nevertheless  desirous 

of  doing  justice  to  both  sides,  makes  the  following  remarks 
10 


Ixviii 


S//'  Jnlm   JohiiHoii. 


ill  iciTiird  to  Sir  Jolin  .Idlmsuii.*  "  He  was  known  to  hi-  a 
I>owi'rt'nl  Ioa<U'rot"  mcii :  lu*  possessed  the  iiia^nietisiii  which 
iiisjtired  (U'votinn.''    •'  pjioui^li  has  ])eeTi  said  ahont  his  own 


*  III  rcirard  to  lln'  imtsoiimI  iippcaniiicf  nf  Sir.Ioliii,  llicrc  urr  as  \\\([v 
(liscn|i!iii<its  as  ill  the  oiiinioiis  alli(liii;i  his  ciiaractcr.  'I'iiis,  Ikiw- 
•  vcr,  should  iioi  lie  siii|nisiiii:  to  any  close  stiulcnl  of" history,  (ircatcr 
tlivcrirt'iH'ics  iinsciil  Ihciiistivcs  in  ilitlVnnt  accomits  of  llic  Karl  ol 
IJothwrll:  sonic  |ii(liiriim- him  as  slriJiinu'Iy  ui:iy  and  Itooiisli,  otiicrs 
as  cmiiicnlly  haiidsonicaiid  coiiilly;  also  of  tin-  Russian  hero  Miwarrow, 
»  ho  a|i|>cars  in  one  |iorti-ail  as  tall  and  coininandinir,  in  another  as  di- 
inimitiveand  repulsive,  in  one  an  »ceenlrie  irenius,  but  still  a  ticniiis  ;  in 
another  a  liiiHoon  devoid  of  even  eouraire  and  altility.  Where  prejiidiei' 
mixes  the  colors  and  |iassion  holds  the  hriish  nothinir  like  truth  can  he 
hoped  for.  "  Ilamn  nohix  out  thun  nut  tftprnoii,"  uml  party  or  laetidii 
elevate  a  friend  or  an  ally  to  the  foinicr,  or  sink  an  «'iiemy  or  oppo- 
nent to  the  latter.  This  is  particularly  the  case  in  civil  wars.  In  them 
there  is  no  jiistr  milieu  of  feeling  or  opinion.  Mr.  Win.  C.  Hryaiil,  Sir 
John'.s  most  ixeneroiiH  American  hioiriaphcr,  presents  him  as  six  feet 
two,  and  laruc  in  proportion.  This  would  almost  make  him  i:ii,'antic. 
His  kinsman,  Kdward  F.  de  Lancey,  Kscp,  historian,  draws  an  entirely 
difVerenl  portrait.  It  would  he  hard  to  n-conciie  sucli  contrasts,  were 
it  not  thai  some  men,  like  the  late  (tcneial,  our  irreat  (leoiiie  II. 
'i'hoinas,  are  so  erect  and  imposiiifj;  that  they  impress  heholders  with 
the  idea  that  their  physical  proportions  are  as  iniLdily  as  their  Mitellecl 
and  influence'.  .\  similar  Judirment — tibxit  iinidin — is  apposite,  as  to 
the  moral  characteristics  of  .^ir  .l<iliii. 

It  has  heeii  remarked  that  tailiire  is  the  ;;reatcNt  crime  that  mortal- 
ity  recoirni/.es,  and   that  .some  of  the  most  cruel  tyrants  would  he  ac- 
eeptcd  as  exemplars  if  they  had   not   failed.     Such   is  the  opinion  of 
Fronde,  ill    reirard    to  the  Duke  of  .\lva.     lie  Justly   remarks:  "  Ue- 
li^nous"— yes,  more  especi.illy  political  history — "  is    partial  in  its  ver 
diets.     The  exterminators  of  the  Canaanites  are  enshrined  anion;,' the 
saints,  and  had  the  Catholics  come  otl"  victorious,  the  Duke  of  Aha 
would  have  hCvii  a  second  Joshua."     The  ojiinioiis  of  the  people  of 
this  colony  or  Slate  could  scarcely  he  otherwise  than  unjust  and  injiiri 
ous  in  repird  to  a  man  who,  to  a  mo>t  important  portion  of  it,   rescm 
Ided  ii  tornado  or  a  p.heiiomeiial  tropical  storm.     Such  cataclysms  are 
not  instantaneous  developments,   hut   the   result  of  a  series  of  causes 
Their  iniinediate  elVects  are  never  lieneficial.    Their  ultimate  etlects  are 
oi'teii  eminenllv  so.    The  idea  that  Sir  Williani  .lohiiHon  coniniitted  sni- 


S/'r  '/oh /I  ./o/itisoN. 


Ixix 


tVartul  losses  utkI  tlic  uiijnstitial)Ie  surt'eriiiirs  to  wliicrli  his 
wW'c  was  suhjcctt'd.  She  had  cscapt'd.  tliaiiks  to  (iod  and 
licrst'lf  (ITT*!).'"     "  Thus  no  ri'straiiit  coidd  now  he*  inii)ost'd 


<> 


<i(lc  to  avditl  thr  dilcmmn  ofcustiiii;  his  lot  in  witli  rcliillioii  or  niraiiisi 
the  crown  is  ultcrly  pn-postcroiis — one  of  tlu)si'  ii)s;iiif  sflt'-tii-iiisioiiH 
tiiat  the  Ainorican  p(M)|)lr  iii(liilir<'(l  in.  Itliruli-d  with  tlif  iiii-a  of  their 
own  s(ll'-(:(iiist'(|ii(iHr.  That  a  man  wlio  owed  tverythinir  lo  tin-  Kii)n, 
who  iiii'i  |irt'-('iniii(Mitly  ilistiniruisln'd  and  rcwarditl  him,  >lio(dd  '^n  over 
to  the  t'licmit's  of  ijiat  monarch,  would  have  stainpctl  him  at  once  as 
unworthy  ol"  liic  very  iH'iictits  he  had  received.  (  enturies  since,  the 
tlie  people  were  not  of  tlie  eonseipieuii'  ill  the  eyes  of  tlic  rill  ill  j;  <'lasses 
thai  they  iiave  since  lieeoinc.  Ill  this  remark  there  is  no  attempt  to 
presume  that  tlie  people  do  not  deserve  the  consi«|eralioii  they  are  now 
enabled  to  exact.  Mill  theracj  is  iiidispiitaMc  that  they  did  not  then  en- 
joy it.  Washiniiflon  and  .lell'ersoii,  ai.d  ail  the  i.'reat  li^'lits  of  the  Uevo- 
iutinii,  did  not  reirard  the  masses  as  llie  |<>liticians  of  this  day  ace  com- 
pelled to  do.  If  they  could  ris«'  from  tlieir  jfravcs  they  would  iieirvel 
at  the  almost  incrediltle  proi^rcss  made  liy  the  mass  of  humanity,  in 
wriniriiiu:,  ev<n  from  des|M>ls,  a  c<uisideiation  for  their  opiiiicin>-. 

It  is  just  as  ridiculous  to  iiuau;ine  that  Sir  John  Johnson  wittild  he 

t 

false  to  his  alle<riance  as  to  imat;ine  that  Sir  William  killed  himself 
to  avoid  chanifinu'  his  uniform.  None  of  the  most  ardent  patriots, 
.so  styled,  desired  ill  I771  that  complele  severance  of  ties  liet ween  tin- 
inoili(>r  country  and  the  colonies  which  the  success  of  the  latter  (gradu- 
ally more  and  more  eoncnti'd  into  a  fixed  determination.  The  wisest 
could  not  have  foreseen  the  armed  intervention  of  France  and  Spain, 
and  yet,  without  this,  independence  cDiild  not  hav«-  heen  se«ur»'d.  The 
event  was  Htill  douhlfiil  in  17MI.  and  it  was  only  a  <-oncurrence  of  cir 
i'limslances  heyond  mortal  control  that  decided  the  stru^'irh'.  For  Sir 
John  .lohiison  to  have  turned  his  ha<k  on  all  those  rharacteris 
tics  whici),  by  ^^enerouH  minds,  are  regarded  us  the  finest  ({ualities  in 
man — gratitude,  loyalty,  consistency — mitrhl  have  made  him  popular 
with  those  who  would  have  jirolited  i)V  his  treason.  Imi  would  have 
damned  him  in  irreater  decree  with  those  whosei.piniin>  he  valued.  It 
is  jiiHt  about  as  Hcnsible  to  e.xpect  an  impartial  verdict  upon  M<introHe 
niui  Clavcrhouse  from  the  Wliiu:s  and  ("ovenanters  of  Scoilaiid  as  from 
the  peo|ile  of  central  New  York  ipon  Sir  John  J<din>on.  No  man 
who  is  connected  by  the  ties  of  lilood  or  interesi,  or  \\\t<>  has  made  up 
his  mind,  litis  a  ri::hl  to  sit  u|ion  a  jury  ;  ami  no  nne  imbued  with  the 
prejudices  of  the  Mohawk  \  alley,  or  it<  historians,  has  a  moral  rij;ht 


I.w 


S/ r   ,/nh n    Jolt n Hon. 


Upon  Sir  .Icilni's  niovcnu'iits,  since  liis  family  wcro  sat'c 
inidiT  iSritisli  jtn>tecti<>n,  and  lie  pluiiiiv*!  into  tlit'  strilr 
with  a  Kittcrness  scarcely  to  Ite  e(|iuille<l.      And  lie  was  a- 


111  sit  ill  Jiiil;.'in<  nt  iipon  ihr  .lolinsons.  A;riiin,  Sir  .Inlm  .lulniNon 
(lid  not  (Icsirc  lo  have  iiiiytliin;^  lo  do  with  tin-  inniiipulatioii  of  tin-  In 
diann.  ArttT  Ills  fat Iht'h  dciitii  he  was  olVcrcd  tin-  snccrssion  of  Mr 
Willi  nil,  as  Indian  Sn|HiinlcMd<iit  iindtr  tin-  ("rnwn.  and  In-  rrS'usfd  it, 
and.  at  iii>  sii;r;xts!ion.  it  was  uivcn  lo  Ids  cousin  (Jii\.  'I'lusrluo 
liavr  lii't'ii  olKii  conronndcd  :  and,  on  one  occasion,  when  a  pulilir  d( 
fi-nsf  of  Sir  John  was  hcinir  made,  a  tlosccndant  <if  snllVrcrs  at  thi* 
hands  of  the  Indians  rose  to  olijiii'jatc  Sir  .lolin.  nnd  liad  hi>  whole 
;;ronnd  enl  from  niider  iiiin  h\  lii<  >iniple  dt  inoiislralion  thai  the  party 
incidpated  hv  him  was  Colonel  (iny,  and  not  Sir  .lohn.  Lei  no  one 
thinix  that  this  is  an  excuse  of  (he  latter  at  the  expense  of  (iny  ;  lint 
lher<  is  a  proverit  ;is  old  as  laiifrna^re  :  "Let  each  man  claim  his  ov\n 
creilit.  or  Im  ar  his  own  lilame." 

The  W  hitrs,  or  I'atriots.  or  Wehels,  of  1774-H,  made  out  a  lonir  list 
of  L'rievaiKcs  aijainsl  the  Crown,  on  whiili  they  founded  the  Uevoln- 
iiiiion.     Amoiri:  these.  non<'  was  ho  promiiK  iil  as  the  hated  Stamp  Act. 

It  has  been  jiiNlly  said  that,  in  earpiii!;  or  eonniieiidinjir,  thr  eyes 
of  nioKt  eritU'H  are  liUe  ihe  tnrhol's,  holh  on  one  side  This  has  never 
heen  show  n  mo,  '•  ch  arly  than  I  he  .Vine  riean  consideration  of  the  St. imp 
Act.  \N  iliiim  r.dw.ird  llartptile  Leeky,  in  his  "lli-ion  of  Kn<.d,ind 
in  the  Kiuhleenlh  (<  nlury,"  IMM'i,  \  ol.  III..  Chap  \i,  p.  :{4(),  inis 
summed  up  the  whol(  malter  eoncliisively  at,'ainsi  ihe  Colonies,  anil 
his  verdi<  I  is  irretutaide  : 

••  I  liiixf  nil  wiwli  111  il'iiN  lliiit  ilir  SliiMi|i  .\il  was  a  i;i  ji-viimi'  to  Ilir  Aiiu-riraii-; 
lull  It  i»  iliif  III  ilie  triitli  of  lii*<liiry  tliiit  the  iirimH  i. fiii/i/t-ru/ionM  wUWh  hiivi-  liecii  n'- 
|H'iili>i|  nil  till' xiilijcct  "lioiilil  III'  il|v|>i'll"i|  iiiiil  tliilt  llii>  iiMliiri-  iiT  llic  iillfL'i'il  lyniniiv 
of  Kii;.'liiiiil  iiIkiuIiI  III*  rli'urly  il'llni'il.  Il  I'.itniiot  hv  tun  ili-iiiHtly  -lalcii.  iliiit  Ilicrc 
i"  lint  u  rni'.'ini'iii  iif  i'\  iilriiri  I  lull  any  rai::liNh  Hlali'i«iiiuii.  m  any  rlai>>  of  thr  Kiii;lipli 
(HMiplr.  tli'-iri-il  til  iai^<i'  aiiylliiii;{  liy  illicit  tM\atiiiii  fniiii  ihi-  rnliinJcM  fur  iiiirpntiih 
that  wi-ri-  pim-ly  Kiii.'li'-li.  Tln'y  utikeil  tliriii  in  >'iintiiliiitf  iintliliii;  to  tlii' miiiiMirt  of 
tlif  tmvy  » lili'li  (iroii'rU'il  tlirir  rim>t?'.  luilliiiii;  In  tin- iikiti-I  of  tli''  Klll;li^ll  dobl.  .\I 
till-  cln^r  iif  a  war  wliirli  had  Irlt  l<:ii;:laiiil  oviTWIii'liiifil  with  Hililiilnnul  luinlfii.-,  in 
uhirli  thr  w  hull-  ii"-i<iinrH  iif  till'  llriti-li  lvin|iiri'  hail  liciii  Hiraiiii'il  for  llir  i-.\t(>ni>iiiii 
Miiil  »«•!  iiiity  nf  Mil'  Itriti-h  ti'irilnry  in  .Xiiiirira,  liy  wliirli  thr  .Xiiu-nruii  iiIiiiiI-in  hail 
cnmcil  iiiriiinparHlily  iiii'ii'  than  any  othrr  of  ihi<  xiilijiTtn  nf  tli'  rmwn,  the  colnnlrH 
Hi'n-  aoki  il  to  hear  their  i>hari'  ai  tlif  liiirili-ii  of  tlit-  Kiiipirc- liy  riiiiinliiiliiit;  a  thiril 
l>urt— ihi'y  wiiiilil  iin  iloiilil  iiltliiiiiii'ly  liavc  lici'ii  a^ki-ii  to  roiitriliiitr  the  wlmlc— ol 
wtiai  wax  ii'i|iiiir(l  for  thr  iiiaiiiti'naiu  c  of  an  army  of  I(I,in.O  nun,  iiiicniii'il  primarily 
fi>r  ihi  il  own  ili'Triiri'.     .l'l(X),UOi>  wa^  ilu'  lii)j;lu'.-4i  uMtiiiuiii'  of  what  the  sianip  Ari  woiilU 


.S//'    ,h>liii    Joh iixoii . 


IWI 


l»rav«'    iiiid    ciu'rurt'tic  as    lie  \va>   \  iinlictiv c.    .Imich    savs, 
tliat  lie  "litl  more  niiscliii-t' to  tin-  rcltt'l  scftlcint'iit^  ii|Mtii  tlic 


itiiiniallv  iiiinliirc.  and  ii  wu>  iiiilirr  Ioh  ilmn  it  ihinl  imri  of  ilic  exinMi-fc  (if  llir  new 
iiriny.  'I'liio  \va.»  wimi  Kii(!liiii<l  ankid  from  Ihi-  iiiohi  itro^pcroiiK  portion  of  her  Kiiipln'. 
Kvciy  fnitltliiu'  wlilcli  il  \\a.«  intcinlfd  to  raiC'  in  AtiiiTicu.  It  wan  iiitriidcd  al«o  to 
ypciid  llicii." 

Kiiirliiiitl  ((Jn'sii  Mriiiiin*  was  y\\i\\\  ami  just  mikI  the  'riiirtecn  Coin 
nil's  wire  \vi'i)iiL''aiuI  iiiiiri'innuis  :  and  yd  llir  Itcst  iiit'ii  in  tiic  ("i)li)nics 
siiUVrcd  fortliiiiolinrK'iicttKtliroiiicrsor  Iciialiy  cniislitiilcd  anilinrii  y. 
Tiny  wrrc  iiiailr  in  sutler  uili<ially  and  ixisdiialiy,  in  cvciy  line  and 
every  dctfrt'i',  in  sneeecdins;:  jirncnitions. 

Tlie  Ainciiean"' expend  Vdlntnes  of  syinpalliy  upon  the  vielims  of 
liie  Miilisli  |»iis(in  sliips.  An  (lay  awaie  tlial  their  own  side  liad 
prison  ships,  and  on  one  oicision  ti  nninlier  of  eiiiitives  perished  in 
<ons((pieiice,  liy  a  siiiule  a<iident  :'  Arc  they  awtire  that  tiiere  was 
a  enpper  mine  in  ('oiineelieill.  to  wiiicli  respectafde  penjde  were  con- 
siuiu'd  as  ialiorers,  willi  a  want  ct  t'eeliiiL;  al^in  lo  tlial  witi»  wliit  li  the 
1  Var  Nieiiojas  and  his  predecessors  sent  olV  convoys  of  iiohic  champion^ 
')t'what  tiicy  deemed  the  ritthl.  to  Siberia.  IaikIi  law  wsis  iis  active 
aniotii;  the  Patriots  as  on  the  so  style(l  borders  ol"  civilization,  and  the 
term  does  not  emanate  from  thesemi  b.nliarons  West,  but  from  the  ant i- 
revoiiitioiiary  times  and  centre  of  \  eiinont.  As  an  hottest  descendant 
ot  ipiie  of  the  siiU'erers  at  Wyominnjiist  ly  oliserved,  ii|ioiitlie  very  spot 
atid  under  the  sliadow  of  the  commemorative  nionnmctit  :  "The  story 
has  two  sith'H,  iind  I  am  not  jroinir  to  allow  myself  to  be  c.irried  away 
by  the  prejndif  es  of  tradition."  To  exoticralc  Sir  .lolm  .lohnsoti  is  to 
condemn  his  opponents,  and  to  hitn  and  them  is  applicable  the  sen- 
lenee  ol  Ihe  Iliirhest  .\ulhority:  "  ll  limsl  needs  be  that  olVences  cdme  ; 
init  woe  to  ilnit  man  by  whom  the  otfeitcc  comclh."  Sir  .lolm  did  not 
inaumiralc  the  <<>nllict.  lie  was  defendant,  and  not  plaintill'.  either  in 
the  <'onrts  of  law  or  the  ordeal  of  battle. 

How  many  ol  those  who  stirred  up  the  dilliciilty  perished  at  Oris- 
kany,  where  tirsi  the  waiter  of  battle  occurred,  and  how  m  my  were 
impoverished  in  tiie  course  of  die  cdiitlict  y  Auiiin,  the  Scripture  ob- 
serves: "vSurely  liic  wrath  of  man  shall  praise  Thee."  (iood.  undoubt- 
edly, WHS  cvolvi'd  out  of  the  evil  that  w.is  done,  but  how  miiny  of  those 
who  were  its  ajifcnts  lived  lo  see  the  day?  "  The  mills  of  tiie  Lnxls 
urind  slowi_\  :"  and  lime  with  (Jod  i>  n<ltbin^^  The  !,MMst  cini  only  be 
valued  w  hen  Hi-'  time  has  come  I'icdmoiit  or  Sardinia,  Italy,  ex- 
pelled the  Waldeiises,  and  was  compelled  to  permit  them  to  return. 
Spain   tirovc  out    the   .Moors,  and   accepted   ccnnpaiiitive    ruin  as  the 


Iwii 


S//'   .lull II    JohiisiHi . 


ii 


frontiers  of  New  Wwk  fluui  all  tiic  jmrtisaiis  in  tlic  l»riti«i|i 
sorvicc  j»ut  toifctlu'i'." 

The  cliiiri^i'  ut'  "  (jut'stioiiuldc  coiiram' "  is  utti-riv  riilicii 
ions. 

Ft  •iriiiinatcMJ  with  his  jtcrsonal  I'lU'iuii's,  and,  if  such 
cvidriKH'  wiM'c  admissihli',  it  is  (lis|n'()vt'(l  l»v  facts, 
'riicrc   is    scarcciv  aiiv  aiiiunnt  of  i'iil(>y,v  which  has    not 


pricf  of  liijjolcd  opprcssidii.  Kr.incr  lliniMl  out  llic  Iliiiriicmiis, 
1111(1  tlicnliy  ciiriclicd  ami  toifilii'd  licnditarv  iiicmits  Tlic  Siiiarls 
persecuted  llie  I'liiilaii.-,  and.  Iu,  i|ie  Amerieaii  I{e\  nliition  I  Fraiiee 
assisted  a  reliellion,  and  tli<>  riMriliiition  came  williin  tit'teen  VM'ars.  Tlie 
Americans  drove  out  the  Loyalists.*  and  lliev  constituted  the  Ixnieand 
sinew,  the  industry  an«l  wealth  <d  tin-  Dominion  of  Canada. 

The  Seven  I'nited  Slates,  or  I'rovinces  of  Holland,  two  hundred  li> 
three  hiindreil  years  a,u:o,  were  the  "Asylum  of'Thou^ht,"  the  "  Hct'ii^fe" 
of  persecuted  mankind,  ami  the  fri-est  country  in  theworlil.  They  I'd! 
Iiel'ore  their  time,  from  three  causes,  which  are  destined  to  wreck 
thlH  country  :  centrnli/.alion,  the  inistakinu:  of  national  wealth  for  n.i 
tional  fiireatiiess.  and  the  ntistakiiiu;  of  the  virulence  of  political  paiii 
saiiship  for  the  virtue  of  pat riotism.  These  three  diHintcLrrated  the 
whole  structure  of  the  hotly  politic,  ami,  when  the  storm  arose  and 
heat  upon  it,  the  condition  of  the  fiihric  revealed  itself  in  ruins. 

The  liods  of  Homer  nod,  and  an  a-on  has  passed  away.  (Jod  shul> 
his  eyes  to  the  evil,  and  centuries  pass  awa.\  before  the  ex|iialion 
<(>mes  ;  hut  it  does  come. 

*  "A  iiuinlii'r  (if  I.oviil  lifriiKccx  liiiil  pctillolii'd,  iiiid  ln'Uii  iicniiilli'd  )iy  Sir  llrtitv 
i'linton  to  «'iiiti.)ily  imdcr  proper  ()ni('('r>^,  uiid  to  ri-tMliiit<>  mid  innkt!  lepriMiilH  upon  lln' 
.Vinrrlfim-  dcrliircd  to  lie  in  actual  rt'tp«'ll1i)u  airain^t  llu-ir  soviTi'it;M  .\  party  of  iIh'iu. 
U'lio  liad  foiMH'ily  lit'loimi'd  lo  tlic  .MaHKH<'liu->'tl--.  iiiadc  an  attriiipt  upon  Kalnioiilli. 
ill  liariiHlniiN- I'ouiity,  luit  won'  rr|iiilH<'(l  liy  tlic  luilitia.  'I'licy  renewed  it.  tint  not  mie 
reedliii.',  went  otT  to  Nanliickt'l,  ami  landed  V!U(I  men,  iMilered  the  town,  lirolti!  open 
wareliouHf^.  and  enrrled  <dT  lar(;t>  (|iiaiiiiti(.>i>  of  oil,  wlialelioiie,  iiKilu^neH.  HiiL;ur,  cotToe. 
and  eveiytliin;;  thai  fell  in  their  way,  Tlicy  alno  carried  olT  two  lirifjit,  loaded  for  tin- 
NVift  Indii'H.  two  or  tliree  scIiooium>.  and  a  lar;.'c  nunilier  of  lioatn.  In  a  proclaiimtion 
lliey  left  tieliind  Ihiij  liink  nutht  iif  llnir  hiii'iii'i  lieeii  iiii/trMinnl,  riniifiilhtl  In  n/xini/oii 
tlitiv  ilit'iiriinis,  fiimtli'  tiiiil  (11111111  limis,  hml  Ihiir  ikIiiIih  sKjin/ili  ni/,  iinii  /mil  t/nin 
iu-lre»foriiiiill!i  /lanis/inf.  nerer  torfliint,  on  /lalit  of  i/fiif/i.  Thiin  lirruiiiKtanceil,  thetj 
iunnkral  tliiiiisthin  wiirrinitiit,  l>y  the  laim  or'  ami  ami  mnii,  li>  inu/i  inir  luiniiint  f/idr 
/K  rmi'iiliir''.  1111(1  til  «w  fririf  iiinnis  in  ffietr  iKurrr  to  iJiliihi  (i)/n/)ni''iitioii  for  t/ieir  nnf 
fn-inijn:'    .'illi  .\prii,  ITVs     (iordon.  Ill,  •.'.•jc,  '. 


»SV/'   John    Jn/nisrni. 


I  \  \  1 1 1 


Iti't'M  lavislu'd  u|Miii  ArtKiId's  i'\|n'<litinn  fVnin  tin-  Kcrmc- 
lu'c,  across  tlic  ^rcat  <livi<U'  lictwccii  Maiin'  aiul  Caiiatlu, 
down  t(»  flic  sit'iyc  (it'tjuchcc,  aii<l  the  same  praise  has  hccii 
c\tcM(h'<l  t<»  (Mai'kc  for  his  t'aiiious  march  across  the 
<irt»\viK'(l  hinds  ot'  Iiidiatia.  Ariiohl  dcscrvi-s  all  that  can 
lie  said  tor  him,  ami  so  does  ('larke,  and  i-veryone  who 
has  displayed  e<pial  eMcriry  and  intrepidity.  It  is  only 
>«iirprisini,f  that  sinnlar  justice  has  not  heeii  exti-ndi'd  to 
Sir  .lohn.  It  is  nnivi-rsally  concede<l  that,  when  he  matle 
his  escape  from  his  persecutors,  in  I77*»,  atid  |>luni;i'd 
int(»  the  howlinir  wilderness  to  preserve  his  liherty  ami 
honor,  he  encoujiterecl  all  tlu'  siitrerin<r  that  it  seemed 
possihle  for  a  man  to  en<hii'e.  \\\vn  Na|iolt.'on  admitted 
that  (^)uraire  is  secondary  to  Fortitiide.  As  one,  well  ac- 
<|uaiiite(l  with  tlie  Adirondack  wihk-i'ness,  remarke<l,  "such 
a  traverse  would  he  an  astonishinir  feat,  even  under  favor- 
ahle  circumstances  and  season,  at  this  day."  Sir  John 
was  nineteen  (lays  in  making  the  transit,  and  this,  to<j, 
at  a  time  when  snow  and  drifts  still  hlocked  the  Indian 
paths,  the  only  ncogni/ed  thor<»uirlifares.  \o  man  de- 
ficient in  s]>iiit  and  fortitude  would  ever  have  nuule  such 
an  attenijif.  Jioth  of  the  invasions  under  his  pi-rsonal 
jeadiui;  were  characterized  hv  similar  darinir.  In  some 
casi's  the  want  of  intrepidity  was  assuredly  on  the  j>art 
of  those  who  hurled  the  epithet  at  him.  American  writers 
admit  it  hy  infereu'^i',  if  not  in  so  many  words. 

One  of  the  traditions  of  Tryon  county,  wliich  must 
have  hi'cn  well-known  to  he  rememhere<l  after  the  lapse 
of  a  century,  seems  to  he  to  the  effect  that  in  the  last  hattle. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Sir  -/o/u)   Jo/infiO)!. 


known  as  the  tiijlit  v]\  Ivlock's  Field,  or  near  Fox's  Mills, 
both  sides  ran  away  from  each  other.  In  (le<:'i'ee  this 
was  the  case  at  Bull  IJun  1st.  Were  it  ti'ue  of  both  sides, 
it  would  not  he  an  extraordiiuiry  oecurr'-nce.  Panics, 
more  or  less  in  ]:)ropovtion,  have  occurred  in  the  best  of 
armies.  There  was  a  partial  one  after  Wai^rani,  after 
CTuastalla,  after  Solferino,  and  at  our  tirst  ]ju11  Run. 
But  these  are  only  a  few  among"  scores  of  instances  that 
niia'ht  be  cited.  AVhat  is  still  more  curious,  while  a  single 
j)ersonal  enemy  of  Sir  John  charii'ed  him  with  ([uitting 
the  field,  his  antagonist,  (len.  van  Rensselaer,  was  gene- 
rally abuse(i  for  not  ca[)turing  Sir  John  and  his  troops, 
although  a  court-martial  decided  that,  while  the  Genera/ 
iliil  all  he  coiihl^  his  troops  were  very  "bashful,''  as 
the  Japanese  term  it,  about  getting  under  close  fire,  and 
they  had  to  be  withdrawn  from  it  to  kee}>  the  majority 
from  going  to  the  rear.  The  fact  is  that  the  Ameri- 
can State  Levies,  (piasi-regnlars.  under  the  gallant  Col. 
Brown,  had  exi)erienced  snch  a  tei-rible  defeat  in  the 
morning,  that  it  took  away  from  the  militia  all  their  ap- 
petite for  another  tight  with  the  same  adversaries  in  the 
evening.  Sir  John's  conduct  would  have  been  excusable 
if  he  had  quitted  the  field  because  he  had  been  wounded, 
and  a  wound  at  this  time,  in  the  thigh,  in  the  midst  of  an 
enemy's  country,  was  a  casualty  which  might  luive  placed 
a  man  "fighting,"  so  to  speak,  "  Nvith  a  halter  around  his 
neck,"  at  tlie  mercy  of  an  adndinstration  which  was  not 
sloM',  with  or  without  law,  at  inflicting  cruelties,  and  even 
"hanging  in  haste  and  trvingat  leisure."   But  Sir  John  did 


Sir  John  Johnso)). 


Ixxv 


not  <]iiit  tlio  field  ju'emalurely.  He  was  not  there  to  flight 
to  obliije  liis  adversaries ;  his  tactics  were  to  avoid  any 
battle  which  was  not  absolutely  necessary  to  secure  his  re- 
treat, lie  repulsed  his  pursuers  and  he  absolutely  re- 
turned to  Canada,  carrvinu'  with  him  as  i)risoners  an 
American  detachment  which  souii'ht  to  interce])t  and  im- 
})ede  liis  movements. 

To  (piality  Sir  .lohn's  evasion  from  Klock's  Field  as 
evinciu'i'  want  of  courai^e,  is  to  stiii'iuatize  as  such  the  re- 
jieated  retreats  of  Washington,  "the  Father  of  his  Coun- 
try," l)efo)-e  su})erior  enemies,  or  the  withdrawals  after 
Antietam  and  (Tettysbur<;,  or  from  Petersburi;,  of  Lee, 
the  idol  of  the  South.  A  successful  retreat  or  escape 
in  desperate  circumstances  is  credited  to  a  <?eneral  as 
equivalent  to  a  victory.  To  brin<i;  such  a  charge  against 
Sir  John  on  this  occasion  is  as  just  as  to  censui'e  Frede- 
ric the  Great  for  disappearing  from  the  field  of  Liegnitz 
when  he  liad  made  Loudon  "get  out  of  that,"  as  did 
van  liensselaer's  militia,  and  then  did  not  wait  to  be 
fallen  u])on  with  crushing  force  by  Daun  and  Lascy,  re- 
presented in  this  case  by  Colonels  Duboise  and  Harper, 
who  had  more  men  than  he  could  oppose  to  them.  Sir 
John's  capture  of  Vrouman's  detachment,  sent  to  intercept 
him,  will  complete  the  parallel  as  a  set  off  to  Frederic's 
tricking  Soltikotf,  advancing  for  a  similar  purpose  to 
complete  the  toils,  in  1760. 

"I  know,"  said  St.  Paul  (Phillipians  iv.,  12),  "both 

how  to  be  abased,  and  I  know  how  to  abound."     This 

remark  applies  eminently  to  war.     Alexander,  Hannibal, 
11 


Ix.w  i 


Sn'  Jolin   JitJtunoh. 


\i 


\f 


Ca^stir.  (lustavus,  Frederic  and  Na]K)]o()ii  knev  wlu'ii  to 
ix'treat  and  when  to  iiolit — the  hitter  never  at  tJie  voJit'ion 
of  (in  enriiti/.  Some  o;eiierals  are  known  to  fame  hv  little 
more  than  successfnl  retreats:  those  of  Baner  trom  Tor- 
fjaii.  in  l<)li7  ;  Tandoniont  hetore  Villeroi,  in  1095  ;  Frede- 
ric before  Trann,  in  1 744 ;  Moreau  through  the  Black 
Forest,  in  J  TOO,  and  a  Imndred  others  are  cited  as  brilliant 
efforts  of  ireneralsliip,  better  than  victories,  when  a  thou- 
sand successfnl  battles  are  forgotten  as  unworthy  of  ex- 
em])lai-y  citation. 

This  little  work,  it  is  true,  i^  treating  of  opei'utions 
which  are  mere  pigmies  in  comparison  to  the  gigantic 
pai-allels  cited,  in  connection :  but  the  trite  remark  must 
be  remend)ered,  that  "the  destinies  of  the  world  were  be- 
ing decided  in  America  (during  the  Revolution)  by  colli- 
sions between  mere  detachments  or  squads  of  men." 

While  van  Rensselaer,  the  scion  of  a  race  which  dis- 
played uncommon  courage  in  the  Colonial  service,  was 
being  tried  and  it  was  sought  to  make  him  a  scape-goat 
for  the  shortcomings  of  his  superiors  and  inferiors,  Sir 
John  Avas  receiving  the  coivipliments,  in  public  orders,  of 
his  own  superior.  Gen.  Kaldimand,  to  whom  the  German 
officers  in  America  have  given  in  their  published  corre- 
spondence and  narratives,  the  highest  praise  as  a  profes- 
sional soldier,  and  tlierefore,  professionally,  a  judge  of 
military  merit.  What  is  more,  as  a  farther  demonstration 
of  the  injustice  of  ordinary  history,  the  severe  Governor 
Clinton  was  either  Avith  van  Rensselaer  or  near  at  hand, 
and  conse(|uently  as  much  to  blame  as  the  latter  for  the 


«SV/'  Jdlui   Johnson. 


Ixxvi 


an 


oscupe  of  Sir  John.     Stone,  who  wrote  at  u  time  wlien  as 
jet  there  were  plenty  of  living  contemporaries,  distinetiy 
says  that    Gov.   Clinton  was  with    Gen.   van    Rensselaer 
jnst  hefore  the  battle,   and  remained  at  Fort  I^lain  whik' 
tiu^  battle  was  taking  place  a  few  miles  distant.     Finally, 
the    testimony    taken    before    the    court-martial    indicates 
that  the  Americans  were  vastly  superior  in  nundjers    to 
Sir  John's  Whites  and  Indians  (if  not  treble  or  even  (piad- 
ru])le  his  force),  and  it  was  the  want,  as  usual,  of  true  fight- 
ing pluck  in  the  Indians,  and  their  abandomnent  of  their 
white  associates,  which  made  the  result  at  all  indecisive 
for  the  Lovalists.     Had  the  redskins  stood  their  <rr<»und 
some  of  the  militia  ought  not  to  have  stopped  short  of 
Schenectady.     All  accounts  agree  that  the  invaders  had 
been  over-worked  and  over-weighted,  foot-sore  and  fatigued, 
having    performed    extraordimiry    labors    and   marches ; 
wdiereas,     except    as    to    ordinary    expeditiousness,    the 
Americans,  quasi-regulars  and  militia,  were  fresh  and  in 
light  marching  order,  for  they  were  just  from  home.     So 
mnch   stress  has  been  laid  on  this  light,  because  it  has 
been   always  unfairly  told,  except  before  the  court-mar- 
tial which  exonerated  van  Eensselaer.     Ordinary  human 
judgment  makes  the  philosopher  weep  and  laugh :   weep 
in  sorrow  at  the  fallacy  of  history,  and  laugh  in  bitterness 
at  the  follies  and  prejudices  of  the  uneducated  and  unre- 
flecting. 

Some  of  tlie  greatest  counnanders  who  have  ever  lived 
have  not  escaped  the  accusation  of  want  of  spirit  at  one 
time  or  another.     Even  Napoleon  has  been  blamed  for 


Ixxviii 


«S'//'  flohu   Jo/rn.ioi). 


not  suit'eriiii;  liiiiiself  to  bo  killed  at  Waterloo,  thus  ending 
Ins  career  in  a  l)laze  of  glory.  Malice  vented  itself  in  such 
a  charge  against  the  gallant  leader  who  saved  the  ''middle 
zone"  to  the  Union,  and  converted  the  despondency  of 
retreat  and  defeat  into  victory.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact 
that  the  majority  of  peo})le  always  select  two  vitu}>erative 
charges  the  most  repngnant  to  a  man  of  honor,  to  hnrl  at 
the  objects  of  their  dislike,  perhaps  becanse  they  are  those 
to  which  they  themselves  are  most  open — falsehood  and 
poltroonery ;  forgetting  that  it  is  not  the  business  of  a 
commander  to  throw  away  a  life  which  does  not  belong 
to  himself  individually  but  to  the  general  welfare  of  his 
troo{)s.  Mere  ''physical  courage,"  as  has  been  well  said 
by  a  veteran  soldier,  "is  largely  a  (piestion  of  nerves." 
Moral  courage  is  the  God-like  quality,  the  lever  wdiich  in 
all  ages  has  moved  this  world.  Moreover  it  is  the  corner- 
stone of  progress ;  aiul  without  it  brute  insensibility  to 
danger  would  have  left  the  nineteenth  century  in  the  same 
condition  as  the  "Stone  Age."  A  man,  bred  as  Sir  John 
had  been,  who  had  the  courage  to  give  up  everything  for 
principle,  and  with  less  than  a  modern  battalion  of  whites 
j)lunge  again  and  again  into  the  territory  of  his  enemies, 
bristling  with  forts  and  stockaded  posts,  who  could  ])ut  in 
the  field  forty-five  regiments  (0,  of  which  seventeen  were  in 
Albany  and  five  in  Tryon  counties — the  actual  scenes  of 
conflict — besides  distinct  corps  of  State  levies  raised  for 
the  protection  of  the  frontiers — in  which  every  other  num 
was  his  deadly  foe,  and  the  nuijority  capital  nmrksmen, 
that  could  shoot  off  a  squirrel's  liead  at  a  humlred  yards — 


'S'//'  JoliH  JoJiiimn. 


Ixxix 


.  sucli  a  man  must  have  liad  a  very  lai-e  amoimt  of  tlie 
hero  ill  his  C()m])osition.  Americans  would  luive  been 
only  too  M'illinij:  to  erowr.  Iiim  with  this  halo,  if  he  had 
fouo-lit  on  tlieir  side  instead  of  tightiui^-  so  desperately 
against  them. 

In  conclusion,  readers,  your  attention  is  invited  tbi-  a 
short  space  to  a  few  additional  consideratiojis.    Sii-  AA^illiam 
Johnson  was  the  son  of  his  own  deeds  and  the  creatnre  of 
the  bounty  of  his  sovereign.      He  owed  Jiothing  to  the 
people.     Tliey    had    not   added    either   to   Ids    intiuence, 
affluejice,    position   or   power.     If  this  was    true   of  the 
father  as  a  beneficiary  of  the  Crown,  how  much  more  so  of 
tlie  son.     The  jjeople  uiulertook  to  de|)rive  the  latter  of 
that  which  they  had  neitlier   bestowed   nor  augmented. 
They  injured  him  in  ahnost  every  way  that  a  nuin  could 
be  injured ;  and  they  nuule  tliat  which  was  the  most  com- 
mendable in  liim  — his  loyalty  to  a  gracious  l)enefactor, 
his  crime,  and  punished  him  for  that  which  they  should 
have  honored.     Tliey  struck ;  and  he  had  both  tlie  spirit, 
the  power,  and  the  opportuinty  to  strike  back.     His  retali- 
ation may  not  have  been  consistent  with  the  literal  admo- 
nition of  the  Gospel,  but  there  was  nothing  in  it  inconsistent 
with  the  ordinary  temper  of  hmuanity  and  manliness. 

^ome  disciples  of  '^ Indiferentism''  have  argued  that 
Sir  John  should  have  remained  neutral,  like  Lord  Fairfax 
and  retained  his  pojndarity  and  saved  his  property  bv  the 
sacrifice  of  his  i)rinciples.  These  forget  the  severe  "judo-- 
ment  of  the  ancient  Greek  philosopher  ami  lawgiver  (ui 
such  as  they. 


Ixxx 


iSi)'   'lolin    'lo/tii.son. 


^' It  iiuis  a  lU'iiHirkdhlr  Id II'  f)f  Soh/n,  tJiii.t  (11)1/  ptrxni, 
>i'/ti>,  hi  ihe  <'<>in  niothnis  of  the  RepuhVn-^  I'ciiia'inxl  )i<'>(t'i\ 
())•  <i)i  INDIFFKKKNT  spectator  of  tha  coittendlntj  purfn's, 
should  hi  ruiidiiinicd  tit pirpctunl  IxtnishimHt."' 

Tlic  p(.'(j])le  of  this  era  have  no  coiicoptiou  of  the  fear- 
ful   siij-iiitieiince    of    Lovjiltv,    one    hundred     vears    since. 

ir^  II''  I 

Loyalty,  then,  was  almost  j)arainount  fo  reliii'ion ;  \\v\\ 
after  a  man's  duty  to  his  God  was  his  allei^ianee  to  his 
prince.  '•' Xnl)lefii-i,>  ol)f!(je''^  has  been  blazoned  as  the  hiuh- 
est  commeiidation  of  the  otherwi-*'  vicious  aristocracy  of 
France.  It  is  charged  that  when  the  perishing  Bourbon 
<lynastv  was  in  direst  need  of  defenders  it  discovered  them 
*' neither  in  its  titled  nobility  nor  in  its  native  soldiers,'' 
but  in  mercenaries,  AVhereas,  in  America.  George  III. 
found  daring  champions  in  the  best  citizens  of  the  land,  and 
foremost  in  the  tront  rank  of  these  stood  Sir  John  Johnson. 
Ilunie,  who  is  anvthing  but  an  inuiiriiuitive  or  enthusiastic 
writer,  couples  loyalty  axd  patriotism  together ;  and 
with  his  philosophical  words  this  vindication  of  Sir  John 
Johnson  is  connnitted  to  the  cahn  and  unprejudiced  judg- 
ment of  readers  : 

''''The  most  inviolable  attachment  to  the  laws  of  our 
country  is  everywhere  acknowledged,  a  capital  virtue ; 
and  where  the  people  are  not  so  happy  as  to  have  any 
legislature  hit  a  single  person,  tue  strictest  loyalty 


i^,   IN  that  case,   the  truest  patriotism. 


?? 


"  Hopes  have  precarious  life ; 
They  are  oft  blighted,  withered,  snapt  sheer  ort'.- 
Bui  FAITHFULNESS  Call  feed  on  suffering. 
And  knows  no  disappointment.'''' 


Sir  -lolin  Joluixon. 


Ixxxi 


CONSIDERATIONS 

BkAKIM.     IPOX    TIIK   VlOI.AiroN S()-SIVI.I.:i)~(.F  A     l*Ai;(.r.K    (?) 

sAii>  ro  HAVK  |{i;kn  (uvkn  ijy  .Sii:  Joiix  Johnson,  Uakt. 
(Sec  text,  pai^t'  xl,  xnpra.) 

TIk'  plan  on  whicli  turns  the  wlicio  ri-j^'lit  or  wroiiir  of 
tlic  i)arolo  storv,  as  detailed  in  a  letter  to  (Jeneral  Sulli- 
van, IJ-th  ^[arcli.  1770,  iVecjuently  eited,  emphasizes  the 
directions  to  Davton,  that  care  must  he  taken  to  i)revent 
Sir  Jolin  .lohnson  from  heing-  apprised  of  the  real  desio-n 
of  his  o])p()nents.  Fortunately  the  eoniniunication  des- 
l)atehed,  although  cunningly  conceived,  was  not  sutticient- 
ly  ingenious  to  conceal  the  latent  intention.  As  van  der 
Does,  in  Leyden,  wrote  to  Valdez,  the  Spanish  general  be- 
sieging:, and  trying  to  delude  him,  its  governor,  into  sur- 
rendering the  town:  ''The  foAvler  plays  sweet  notes  on 
his  pipe  when  he  spreads  his  net  for  the  bird''— even  so 
the  Loyalist  leadei*  was  not  deceived  by  the  specious 
words  of  liis  enemies,  seeking  to  enmesh  hiu), 

Lossing,  M-ho  had  all  the  original  papers  in  his  hands, 
admits  (11.,  69)  a  snare :   "The  wily  baronet  M'as  not  to 
be  caught  in  the  snare  laid  for  him  by  Schuyler." — I.  W 
de  P.'s    "Sir  John  Johnson's  Address,"   Appendix  I., 
page  vi.,  col.  1,  2. 

Dr.  F.  II.  Hoof,  or  RhiiU'bcck,  forwarded,  tntli  .Iiinc,  1880,  to  the 
writer,  a  copy  of  a  letter,  which  is  i)retty  good  j)ro()f  tliat,  in  tlie  whole 
of  the  paroling  business,  the  relative  |)ositions  of  the  parties  in  anta- 
gonism, and  the  circumstances  connected  therewith,  are  not  only  mis- 
understood, hut  have  l)een  consistently  misrepresented.  To  clear  this 
up  is  imi)ossible,  because  the  documentary  testimony  on  the  loyal  side 


•i     f- 
I- 


Ix.wii 


iS'/r   John    J t)lin »<>)(. 


liiis  iilinost  cnlircly  pcrislicd  (ir  (lisiip]>car<'(l.  Tliis  Icltcr  was  tlic  pro- 
perty of  Henry  liOiuks,  ii  hrollier-in-law  ol'.Mr.  Itoot's  t'atlifr(fi)ri\itrly 
a  law  partner  of  Abraham  van  Vechten)  bolli  now  deceased.  Upon  llie 
hack  of  the  original  was  the  followinjif  note  by  Mr.  Loueks  :  "Sir  John 
Jolmson's  L;raiiddauti:hter,  1777,  Heieu  MeDonald  ;  presented  nic  by  a 
;;r,iiiddaii,i,Miler  of  Jellis  Fonda,  Oct,  7,  1810.  il.  L."  Tiie  date  must 
refer  to  that  oftlie  letter,  because  Sir  Jolm  edidd  not  li;ive  had  a  graud- 
daiiiihter  capable  of  writin.u'  any  letter  in  l'(77:  but  one  of  his  graiid- 
daimhters  did  marry  a  Colonel  McDonald,  and  the  latter  may  li.ave 
been  a  descendant,  a  relative,  or  a  connection  of  the  .McDoneil,  nv  Mr- 
DoiKilil,  who  was  chief  of  the  Ilii^ldanders  dependent  upon  Sir, John, 
who  snrrdidered  their  arms  :2()th  January  ( V),  177('),  and  was  one  oftlu; 
si.\  hostages  for  the  rest,  seized  at  that  time. 

Coi'v  OK  liKTTEH. — "Siu:  Some  lime  ago  I  wrote  you  a  letter. 
much  to  this  purpose,  concerning  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Hush  being 
made  prisoners.  There  was  no  such  thing  then  in  agit.atioM  as  you 
was  ple.ised  to  observe  in  your  letter  to  me  this  morning.  Mr.  Hillie 
Laird  came  amongst  the  peo])lc  to  give  them  wirning  to  go  in  to  sign 
and  swear.  To  this  they  Avill  never  consent,  being  already  prisoners  of 
(Jeneral  Schuyler.  His  Hxcellency  was  i)leased  by  your  proclamation, 
directing  every  one  of  them  to  return  to  their  furmx,  and  that  they 
slioiild  he  no  more  troubled  nor  molented  dnriny  the  W(ir.  To  thin  thei/ 
agreed,  and  have  not  done  ani/tliiiKj  of/aiottt  the  rountn/,  nor  intend  to, 
if  let  alone.  Jf  not,  then  ""'^^  '"•""'  ^''^*''  live>*  before  being  taken  prixon- 
em  AGAIN.  They  begged  the  favour  of  me  to  write  to  Major  Fonda  and 
the  gentlemen  of  the  committee  to  this  jjurpose.  They  blame  neither 
the  one  nor  the  other  of  you  gentlemen,  but  those  ill-natured  fellows 
amongst  them  that  get  up  an  excitement  about  nothing,  in  order  to  in- 
gratiate themselves  in  your  favour.  Tliey  were  of  very  great  hurt  to 
your  cause  since  May  last,  through  violence  and  ignorance.  I  do  not 
know  what  the  consequences  would  have  been  to  them  long  ago,  if  not 
prevented.     Onli/  think  ichat  daily  provocation  does. 

"Jenny  joins  me  in  compliments  to  Mrs.  Fonda. 

"  I  am.  Sir, 

"Your  humble  servant, 

"Callachie,  15th  March,  1777.  "Helen  McDonell." 

"  Major  Jellis  Fonda,  at  Caughnawaga." 


In  this  connection  nothing  can  be  more  jjcrtinent  than  the  remarks 
of  "our  greatest  and  our  best,"  General  Geokge  H.  Thomas,  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  "  Slaveholders'  Rebellion,"  in  18()l-2:  "  In  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  causes  given  for  their  action  by  some  oitiicers  who  de- 


M 


>'/y'  •lolni    •loJni^n}), 


Ixxxiii 


Hcrtcd  tlie  Government  at  the  Ix'^inninir  of  the  Uehellion,  I  (n  Iriend  of 
Tlionifts)  ventured  the  assertion  tlmt,  perhaps,  some  of  tliem  at  distant 
l)()sts  iiiid  acted  ignorantly;  Ihat  I  liad  hccii  iiitbiiiK'd  that  some  of  tlicni 
had  been  imposed  upon  by  friends  and  relatives,  and  led  to  Itelieve  thai 
there  was  to  be  a  peaeeable  dissohitioii  of  the  Union  ;  lliat  there  would 
be  no  actual  lijovernment  for  tlie  whole  country,  and  by  resiijfuinjf  their 
commissions  they  were  only  takinu'  the  necessary  steps  towards  ri'- 
turuin|.5  to  the  allegiance  of  their  respi'ctive  States,  lie  replied,  'Thai 
tills  was  but  a  i)oor  excuse  ;  he  coukl  not  believe  ollicers  of  the  army 
were  so  ii^norant  of  their  own  form  of  .ujovernment  as  to  sup|)ose  such 
proceedings  could  occur  ;  and  as  they  had  niooru  (il/ei/ifuire  to  the  Go 
ver/iinciif,  then  ""■'"<'  bound  to  (idhere  to  it,  and  iroidd  hare  done  no  if  then 
hud  been  ho  inelined."  He  said,  'there  was  no  excuse  whatever  in  a 
United  Sftatcs  otbccr  cliiiUiinu-  the  riij^ht  of  secession,  and  the  only  ex- 
cuse for  their  desert in.ij;  the  Government  was,  what  none  of  them  ad- 
mitted, haviu!^  eni^aged  in  a  rebellion  ajfainst  tyranny,  because  the 
tyranny  did  not  exist,  and  they  well  knew  it.'  1  then  asked  1dm  ;  '  Sup- 
jiosinsi' such  a  state  of  affairs  existed,  Ihat  ari'aiiiien.v'its  were  bcinu' 
made  for  a  peaceable  dissolution  by  the  Government,  the  North  from 
tlie  South,  and  that  it  was  in  progress,  what  would  you  have  done  ?' 
He  i)rom|)tly  replied  :  'That  is  not  a  su|)posable  case  ;  the  Government 
cannot  dissolve  itself;  it  is  the  creature  of  the  people,  and  until  they 
had  agreed  by  their  votes — that  is,  the  votes  of  the  whole  country,  not 
a  i)ortion  of  it — to  dissolve  it,  and  it  was  accomi)lished  in  accordance 
therewith,  the  Government  to  which  they  liad  sworn  allegiance  re- 
mained,.md  as  h)ng  as  it  did  exist  I  sliould  have  adhered  to  it.'  " 

There  is  in  this  extract  a  clear  recognition  of  the  ol)ligation  of  his 
oath  to  support  the  Government,  and  at  this  very  i)oint  the  better  class  of 
S(mthern  ollicers  who  joined  the  Kebellion,  and  who  i)erhai)s  took  this 
step  with  reluctance,  made  direct  issue  with  Thomas.  They  claimed  that 
their  oath  of  oflice  was  obligatory  only  while  they  held  oflice,  and  that 
all  ol)ligation  ceased  with  resignation,  especially  when  their  resigna- 
tions were  accepted.  This  assumption  rests  upon  the  supposed  fact 
that  sui)reme  allegiance  is  due  to  a  single  State  rather  than  to  the  Union 
of  the  States  or  nation  represented  by  the  General  Government.  The 
subtle  logic,  by  which  the  doctrine  of  State  Rights  was  carried  to  the 
complete  negation  of  the  national  unity,  or  autonomy,  had  no  force 
with  General  Thomas,  although  he  greatly  regretted  the  necessity  of 
choosing  between  the  General  Government  and  his  own  State,  in  alle- 
giance with  other  Southern  States.  And  although  he  had  not  enter- 
tained Northern  views  of  the  institution  of  Slavery,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  maintain  his  allegiance  to  the  National  Government ;  and,  in  contrast 


Ixxxiv 


.V//'  .lolnx   'Ivhnxon. 


with  tliosc  who  clainu'd  their  frct'doin  from  the  ohlifiiiti*)!!  of  thi-ir  oath 
of  alic^riaiu'c,  wlicn  their  risiffiiations  had  hueii  aceepted,  carryini^  this 
freedom  to  tiie  extreme  seciuence,  tliat  they  could  ieuilimately  array 
tlieinselves  in  war  af^'aiiiHt  the  Government  that  had  just  freed  them. 
Thomas  helieved  that  there  was  a  moral  and  legal  ohliiration  tiiat  for- 
bade resignation,  witli  a  view  to  take  up  arms  against  the  (iovernment. 
And  from  this  point  of  view  he  condemned  the  national  autiiorities  for 
accepting  tlie  resignation  of  ofticers,  when  aware  that  it  wastheir  inten- 
tion to  join  the  Kehellion  as  soon  astht^  wer*;  in  this  way  freed  from  the 
obligation  of  their  oath  of  allegiance.  In  his  view,  resignation  did  not 
give  them  freedom  Xu  take  up  arms  against  the  (Jeneral  Government, 
and,  resting  upon  this  ground,  he  did  not  wait  till  his  own  State  had 
seceded  to  make  uj)  his  own  decision,  but  made  it  in  entire  indepen 
dence  of  her  i)robable  action  in  the  national  crisis." — Chaplain  Thomas 
B.  Van  Home's  "Life  of  Gen.  George  li.  Thomas,"  pp.  '^(5,  27. 


k  % :!;' 


iriitaiit). 


"  Against  srui'iuiTV  tlie  <„'od>  arc  powerless,"— Gukthk. 


'■  When  through  dense  wonds  priniev;il  howerM 
A  perfect  hail  of  bullets  showcrM, 
Where  bold  Thayentlanega  towcr'd — 
Good  old  Harkheinier  prov'd  no  coward, 
Commanding'  at  Oriskany  I 

"  True  to  his  Teuton  lineage. 

Foremost  amidst  the  battle's  rage. 
As  bold  in  fight,  in  council  sage, 
Most  glorious  as  he  quit  the  stage 
Of  life,  by  the  Oriskany  ! 

"Although  he  felt  the  mortal  wound. 
Though  feil  in  swathes  his  soldiers  'round, 
Propp'd  'gainst  his  saddle,  on  the  ground, 
He  calmly  smok'd,  gave  counsel  s(jund, 
'Mid  war-whirl  at  Oriskany  ! 

"  War  never  llercer  sight  has  seen 

Than  when  Sir  Johnson's  cohort  green 
Charged  on  the  Mohawk  rangers  keen  ; 
The  sole  such  strife  Aliiianza  'd  been 
As  that  on  the  Oriskany  I 

"  New  York's  bold  yeomen,  Watts,  at  head. 
Breasted  meet  foes — New  Yorkers  bred — 
There,  eye  to  eye,  they  fought,  stabb'd,  bled  ; 
Bosom  to  bosom  strove,  fell  dead 
In  ambush  of  Oriskany  1 

Ixxxv 


i  • 

1 

1' 

1 

I 

1 

I  I 


1 
111 


Lwwi  The   Battle  of  Orishfn//. 

"Alone  can  Berwick's  shudder  tell 
What  fury  rul'd  that  mrment  fell, 
When  Frenchman's  steel  hi's'ei  Frenchman's  knell  : 
Horrent  made  the  sole  parallel 
To  hattle  of  ( )riskany  ! 

"  Teeth  with  like  frantic  fury  set, 

'I'here  Frank  died  on  Frank's  hayonet — 
litre  neighbor  tleath  from  neighbor  met, — 
With  kindred  blood  both  fields  W!:re  w?', 
Almanza*  and  Oriskany  ! 

"And,  ceas'd  the  storm  whose  rage  had  vied. 
With  ruthless  shock  of  fratricide, 
There  lay  the  Mohawk  Valley's  pride 
Just  as  they  fonglit,  stark,  side  by  side. 
Alon^;  the  red  Oriskany  ! 

"  1  hough  neither  force  conUl  triumph  claim 
In  war's  dread,  da/zling,  desp'rate  game, 
Knkindled  there,  the  snioidd'ring  flame 
Of  Freedom  blazed,  to  make  thy  name 
All  glorious,  Oriskany!" 

"Anchor"  (J.  W.  de  P.),  in  Chas.  G.  Jones'  Military  Gazette,  Nov..  i860. 

i'hese  verses  were  exquisitely  translated  into  German,  and  printed  in   Kapp's  "A/;/- 
-viitii/t-ntng."  1.,  \f>g,  by  Miss  Marie  Blode. 


*  The  battle  of  Almama,  tbu.irht  on  tlie  25th  April,  1707,  was  re- 
inarkabk-  in  two  resiiccts— first,  for  its  rexult,  in  that  it  assured  the 
crown  of  Spain  to  Philip  V. ;  second  for  a  bloody  epuoile,  whicli  it  is 
said  the  Duke  of  Bericick.  bigoted  and  pitiless  as  he  always  proved 
himself  to  be,  could  never  recall  without  a  shudder  of  horror.  In  the 
midst  f)f  that  conflict,  Jolin  Cavalier,  the  expatriated  French  Protestant 
liero,  with  his  battalion  of  fellow-exiles,  the  Camisards,  or  Huij;uenots 
of  Languedoc,  found  themselves  opposed  to  a  regiment  of  French 
Roman  Catholics,  who  it  is  supposed  had  been  chiefly  instrumental 
in  applying  the  atrocities  of  the  Dragonnades  against  their  native  Pro- 
testant brethren.  No  socmer  had  they  recognized  each  other,  than  the 
two  corps,  without  exchanging  a  shot,  rushed  to  the. attack  with  the 
bayonet,  and  engaged  in  such  a  mutual,  inveterate  slaughter  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  testimony  of  Marshal,  the  Duke  of  Berwick,  not  over 
three  hundred  survived  of  both  corps.  As  the  CamUariU  constituted 
a  battalion  of  700  men,  and  the  Roman  Catholics  a  full  regiment  of  at 
least  1000  eflectives,  only  one  out  of  every  six  combatants  survived 
the  merciless  conflict.  Such  a  slaughter  is  almost  unparalleled  in 
historv. 


The  Battlv,  of  Orlskani/. 


(i 


Ixxxvn 


Enji'laiul  lias  never  been  ]>rolitic  in  iireat,  nay  in  even 
moderately  <;reat  generals,  however  exuberant  in  er()i>s  of 
tlie  bravest  soldiers.  Sinee  Marlboronirli,  wlio  enlminated 
at  IToelistedt  or  Blenlieini,  18tli  Anirust,  ITO-i — 17'^  years 
an'o — there  have  been  only  three  wlio  stand  forth  as  re- 
markable leaders — AVolfe,  Clive  and  AVellington.  Clive 
was  destined  to  the  command  against  tlie  revolted  colonies, 
and  if  he  had  displayed  in  xVmerica  the  tremendous  power, 
influence  and  fortune  he  exerted  in  Ilindostan,  the  historv 
of  the  American  Revolution  would  have  had  a  different 
termination.  The  name  of  Sir  AVilliam  Johnson,  ''a 
heaven-born  general,*'  has  been  associated  with  that  of  Lord 
Clive  by  more  than  one  English  writer  of  distinction,  and 
particularly  by  one  of  (ireat  J>ritain's  best  military  an- 
mdists,  Sir  Edward  Cust.  Lord  Clive  perished  by  suicide, 
•22d  Xov.,  1774,  and  Sir  William  Johnson,  it  is  insinuated, 
hut  frt/sel//,  in  the  same  manner  on  11th  July,  177-1-.  Tie 
died  of  chronic,  malignant  dysentery. 

American  affairs  were  desperate  enough  in  1770  and 
1777,  in  17'*^0,  and  even  in  17>^1,  to  need  only  a  feather's 
weight  in  the  scale  to  sink  it  into  ruin.  A  breat)  of 
genius  would  have  done  this,  but  there  was  no  one  to 
breathe  it.  Cornwallis  might  have  done  so  had  he  oc- 
cupied an  inde}tendent  position  like  Marll)orough,  Wolfe, 
Clive  or  V*  ellington,  ami  have  added  his  name  to  these 
illustrious  four. 

T^nfortunately  for  England,  and  Im-kily  for  the  I'nited 
States,  he  Nvas  subordinate  to  successive  sujjeriors,  who 
were   his    inferiors   in    everything   but  rank.     Gage  was 


■  1 


Ixxxviii 


Tlie  Ihittlu  of  (Jrida?)'/. 


weak  and  vacillating; ;  n(nve  indolcMit  and  self-indnli»ent  ; 
Burii:()viu'  vain,  selt'-seokinij  and  ovor-contident ;  Clinton 
nervous  and  afraid  of  resi)on.sibilitv.  Carleton  and  Corn- 
wallis  are  tlie  only  two  of  hiii-h  rank  that  relieve  the  picture. 
There  were  al)le  men  in  lower  a-rades,  l)ut  they  exercise<l 
oidy  restricted  intluence.  The  American  Kevolution 
was  a  political  quarrel  between  parties  in  Enn'hnid.  It 
was  fouuht  out  Avith  so  much  bitterness  that,  to  injure  the 
Tories,  the  Whiu's  were  willing;  to  sacrifice  the  worth, 
wealth  and  welfare  of  the  empire.  Without  this  wordy  fi<jcht 
in  Parliament,  the  bloody  conflict  in  America  would  not 
liave  lasted  six  months.  It  was  the  story  of  Hannibal 
over  ai>:ain.  The  violence  of  faction  in  the  senate  house 
of  Carthage,  at  home,  sacrificed  the  hero  wlio  was  breaking 
down,  abroad,  the  deadly  enemy  of  his  country,  and  the 
oligarchs  in  Africa  carried  this  spite  so  far  that,  with 
the  fall  of  the  victimized  hero,  fell  the  commonwealth 
which  he  sustained.  Ko  wonder  he  burst  out  into  a 
sardonic  fit  of  laughter  when  he  saw  the  oligarchs,  ab- 
ject, broken-hearted,  ho])eless,  weeping  the  bitterest  tears 
on  feeling  the  ruin  thev  had  caused  when  thev  beheld  their 
own  riches  the  prey  of  Ronum  flames.  The  Loyalists  of 
America  were  representatives  of  the  spirit  of  the  Barcida' — 
faint  imitations  of  tlie  genius,  but  strong  representatives 
of  the  feeling  which  lay  beneath  it.  Like  Hannibal  they 
expiated  their  patriotism  and  loyalty — all  in  exile,  some  in 
poverty,  many  on  foreign  flelds  of  battle,  others  in  })rison, 
not  for  crime  but  debt,  when  rebels  were  revelling  in  their 
sequestrated  possessions — and  all  martyrs  ;  for  there  can 


lltt    Buttle  of  Urlskanii. 


Ixxxix 


1)0  no  martyrdoni  Avitliout  a  full  ai)preciation  of  the  canse— 
a  complete  perception  of  the  result  and  a  perfect  M'illing- 
ness  to  suffer  for  ])rinciple. 

Tradition  can  scarceh'  be  deemed  worthy  (^f  satisfvinir 
legitimate  imjjortance,  or  perhaps    more  properly  speak- 
ing of  serious  consideration,  hy  a  historian,   unless  snj)- 
])orted    or   corroborated    by    other  irrefutable  testimony, 
less  susceptible  of  the  iniluence  of  time  and  the  weakness 
of  the  human  structure.     Eyen  physical   pro(;fs,    if  they 
continue  to    subsist,   are  only  trustworthy  as  to   locality 
or  results,  but  not  as  to  the  ''^ylly''  and  the  "when," 
Ayhich,  after  all,  to  the  philosopher,  are  of  the  most  conse- 
(pience.     This  remark  as  to  the  little  Meight  that  can  be 
attached  to  human  recollections,  transmitted  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  is  particularly  applicable  to  the  Johnson 
family  in  the  State  of  New  York  and  especially  respecting 
Sir  Jolin  Johnson,   the  last  of  them  who  figured  in  con- 
nection with  the  affairs  of  the  Mohawk  Yalley.     If  eyer 
a  mortal  has  been   the  yictim   of  bigotted  ])rejudice  and 
continuous  misrepresentation,  he  is  the  man.     The  English 
translator  of  yon  Clause\yitz's  "Campaign  in  Kussia,"  in 
1S12,   remarks  in  regard  to  the  action   of  the   Prussian 
General  York,   on   which  hinged  the  fate   of  Napoleon, 
that,  whethei"  the  Prussian  <;eneral  should  be  recarded  as 
a  traitor  oi-  a  hero,  was  not  dependent  on  ^yhat  he  risked 
or  did,   but  upon  subse(pient  deyelopments  based  there- 
upon.    The    same    doubt    hangs    over    the   memory   of 
Wallenstein.     That,  the  last,   neyer    can  be  cleared  up, 
although  with  time  York  has  receiyed  full  justice.     Sir 


xc 


Tlu.'   liattlr  of  ()rl><l'<i.n>i. 


•loliii  Johnson  l)i'loiii::s  to  the  catoijorv  of  Wallensteiii.  I)e- 
cause  he  tailed,  jiistityini:!;  the  maxim — '' to  a})])ear  abso- 
hitelv  ahle  a  man  must  always  l)e  successful."  Human 
success,  as  a  I'ule,  is  the  counterfeit  of  merit  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases ;  as  re<T;ards  the  recipient  of  tlie  reward,  a 
sham.  It  is  often  the  greatest  of  impostors.  It  has  cer- 
tainly hecn  so  in  American  history.  And,  yet,  it  is  the 
fallacy  which  is  always  accepted  by  the  masses — who 
never  reason — as  the  reality. 

One  of  the  closest  students  of  American  history,  con- 
siders that  the  two  men  j>;reatest  in  themselves  who  exerted 
an  iniluence  on  the  C(»lonies  were  Sir  William  PeppereH, 
('aj)tor  of  Louisbui'g,  aiul  Sir  William  Johnson,  "the  In- 
dian Tamer.'"  In  reii'ard  to  the  latter,  public  opinion  has 
been  led  astray.  It  believes  that  he  was  little  better  than 
an  adventurer,  who  owed  his  start  in  life  to  the  accidental 
patroiuige  of  his  uncle.  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Warren.  For 
Sir  William  Pe])])erell  the  best  informed  would  substitute 
Hon.  James  de  Lancey,  who  for  so  many  years  was 
Lieutenant  and  acting  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New 
York.  Of  him  the  great  Pitt  remarked,  "Had  James 
de  Lancey  lived  in  England,  he  would  have  been  one  of 
the  first  men  in  the  kingdom." 

William,  afterwards  Sir  AVilliam  Johnson,  Bart.,  was 
more  directly  influential  in  the  arrest  which  involved  the 
overthrow  of  the  French  power  in  America  than  any  other 
individual ;  and  that  this  does  not  appear  in  po}»nlar  his- 
tory is  due  to  the  local  antagonisms,  prejudices,  and  in- 
terests, which  have   obscured   all    the    narratives   of  the 


TIu'   Battlr  of  Ovlxkomi. 


xci 


t ;' 


colonics  or  provinces  that  iitt'ectcti  more  or  less  closely 
the  arro<;ant  elaiins  of  New  En^-land.  This  is  owinu;  to 
the  principle  which  is  most  evident  in  war,  that  while  the 
purely  defensive,  oi*  passive,  is  scarcely  ever,  if  ever,  suc- 
cessful, the  oifensive  or  a^js^i'cssiv'e,  with  any  proportional 
power,  is  almost  always  so.  Examj)le,  Alexander  of 
Macedon.  The  offensive-defensive  is  likewise  most  ad- 
visahle-- witness  tlie  triuni})!!  of  ''Frederic  II.  of  Prussia, 
the  greatest  man  who  was  ever  horn  a  king.'' 

When,  nearly  lialf  a  century  aji,o,  the  writer  first  iiad 
his  attention  directed  to  American  history,  lie  placed  great 
faith  in  standard  works,  accepted  hy  older  men,  as  un- 
questionable authority.  As  he  investiiiated  more  closely 
this  faith  became  gradually  chilled  and  in  numy  cases 
killed.  Then  he  came  to  appreciate  the  force  of  the  Latin 
proverl),  "•  Hear  the  other  side."  A  sterner  scrutiny  and 
harsher  judgment  was  now  applied  to  every  hook,  nor 
were  apparent  facts  alone  subjected  to  microscoi)ic  exam- 
ination. Attention  was  directed  to  the  motives  which 
imperceptibly  or  visibly  guided  the  pens  or  influenced  the 
periods  of  our  most  popular  and  j)olished  writers.  With 
St.  Paul  he  perceived  that  those  ' '  who  seemed  to  be  pillars  " 
were  not  stone  or  marble  but  deceptions,  stucco  or  frailer 
material.  All  this  led  to  the  conviction  that  no  one  can 
prepare  a  satisfactory  narrative,  especially  of  a  battle, 
who  does  not  go  back  to  original  documents  on  both  sides, 
or  at  least  to  the  works  in  which  they  have  been  reproduced ; 
who  has  not  reflected  \\\)o\\  the  anunus  which  did  or 
might  actiulte  the  autlujrs  of  such  jiajjcrs;  who  has  not 


\-A\ 


XCll 


/'//r   liattlr  of  (h'i^kanij. 


M-oi<rlic'(l  report  iii^airist  report ;  and  then,  and  oidy  then, 
after  a  careful  stiidv  of  the  cliaracter  of  tlie  actors  and 
consideraUon  of  time,  phice,  and  circumstances,  lias  formed 
an  opinion  for  himself  ITis  lirst  storv  of  Oriskany  was 
written  in  IS.")!*:  his  second  in  IS^tO;  his  thii-d  in  1S78; 
his  fourth  in  1S80.  In  all  tliese  he  continued  to  pin  faith 
to  the  American  side  of  the  story.  Suhsecjuently  he 
determined  to  investij2;ate  Avith  ecjual  cai'e  tlie  Loyal  story 
and  Ih'itish  side,  pure  and  simple;  this,  witli  the  discovery 
of  Sir  .John  .lohnson's  ''Orderlv  Book,''  has  hr ought  with 
it  a  feeliiiii"  that,  altlioui^li  the  moral  effect  of  tlie  hattle, 
particuhu-ly  upon  the  Indians,  Nvas  to  a  i;reat  extent  de- 
cisive, the  physical  circumstances  Mere  not  so  creditahle. 
It  was  a  sacrifice  rather  than  a  conflict;  an  immolation, 
a  holocaust  which  Heaven  acce])ted,  as  the  Great  Jvuler 
i'Ncr  acce])ts,  rn>f  according  to  what  is  actually  fjiven,  hut 
according  as  man  jairposeth  in  his  heart  to  ijjive.  ''For 
if  there  he  first  a  willing  mind,  it  Is  accepted  according  to 
that  a  man  hath,  am/  not  according  to  that  he  linth  not." 
As  it  was  admirahly  put  in  his  Centennial,  hy  tue  Hon. 
Kllis  H.  Roherts,  ''^lIcrl'iiiK  r'' sglory  h  that  out  of  i<a<'h  a 
Klavghti  I'  hi' unatchcd  tJtr  sKtbstanee.'''  This  is  a  sentence 
will  live,  for  it  is  the  concrete  truth  in  a  very  few  admir- 
able words. 

in  com})aring  Oriskany  to  Thermopyla%  there  is  lu) 
intention  to  contrast  the  physical  circumstances.  In  both 
cases,  however,  a  heroic  leader  offered  himself  for  the 
defence  of  his  country  and  lost  his  life  in  consecpience. 
In  both  cases  a  portion  of  the  troops  did  their  duty  and 


IJk    Biittli   of  Oi'lxkii ii>i. 


xciu 


aiiuthcr  portion  tailed,  iii,i;-lonoii«ly,  to  do  so.  iMeiituaily, 
tlio  Greeks,  like  the  Moliuwkers,  were  surrounded  and 
tew  escaped  death,  wounds  or  captivity.  A  i)ass,  whether 
aei'oss  a  marsh,  or  throui>;h  a  wood,  or  anion^'  mountains, 
any  similar  locality,  in  tact,  is  in  a  military  sense  a  "detile!'" 
The  moral  similitudes  between  the  (ith  July,  1>.  C.  4S(), 
and  r»th  Au<rust,  A.  D.  1777,  resemble  each  other  in  many 
respects.  Leoni^las  tell  to  save  Attica  and  Athens; 
IFerkimer  to  relieve  Fort  Stanwix.  and  tlius  i»reserve  his 
native  valley. 

A  better  parallel  to  certain  phases  of  (Jriskany  is  the 
l)attle  of  Thrasimene,  W.  C.  217.  In  the  latter  case  the 
Gauls,  like  the  Indians  in  1777,  rushed  in  too  soon,  and 
thus  by  their  preci])itation  enal)led  a  snuiU  portion  of  the 
Romans  to  escape.  Another  a])posite  example  is  the 
battle  of  (^revant,  81st  July,  14i>:5.  The  French  and  their 
Scotch  auxiliaries  were  l>esiegin<,^  Grevant,  al)out  one  hun- 
dred miles  southeast  of  Paris  on  the  right  baid^  of  tlie 
Yonne,  and  the  English  and  Burgundians  advanced  to 
relieve  the  place.  In  this  case  the  result  of  Oriskany*  Avas 
reversed  under  similai-  circumstances,  and  the  besiegers 
were  almost  all  slain  or  captured.  During  the  Austivj- 
Ilungarian  war  Gen.  Guyon  nearly  came  to  grief  in  a  sim- 
ilar trap  during  the  winter  of  1848-!>.     Dade's  massacre 

*  The  light,  disastrous  for  Balo  or  Basel  city,  striving;,  in  18;W,  to 
luaintown  its  ancient  i)rivile,i?es  or  influence  over  tlie  whole  State, 
was  a  collision  similar  in  many  respects  to  Oriskany.  It  led  to  a  rup- 
ture between  the  Past  and  Present,  and  ended  in  a  division  of  the 
canton  into  two  half- cantons.  Bale  Ville  (city)  and  Bale  Camjia^nie 
(country)  to  the  advantage  of  neither. 


f:    ' 


XCIV 


Tin    lidtth    of  (h'iahii It  ij . 


l>y  Stiuiiiole  riidijuis,  iiSth  Di'ctMiibcr,  ISBo,  in  Florida, 
was  a  iiiiniatiii't'  of  l>rad<lo('k's  overwlieliniiii;  on  tho 
MonoTipihola,  Htli  -luly,  1755.  Tlie  irlory  of  this  success 
hcloiiiis  to  Laiiifiadc,  the  famous  French  leader  of  Indians, 
vvlio  |)re|)ared  a  similar  traj*  for  Wolfe  on  the  Montmorenci. 
in  175!).  In  the  latter  the  ^reat  Enijlish  leader  was  only 
saved  by  the  suj)ei'cilious  self-suthciency  of  the  French  re- 
gular supei'ior  ofhcers,  who  rejected  tlie  pr()])ositi()n  of 
the  partisan. 

It  is  somewliat  curious  that  in  the  same  way  that  the 
Provincials  seemed  to  liave  better  strategical  as  well  as 
graud-tactical  views  thaii  professionals,  Georije  III.  was 
wiser  in  his  views  tlian  his  ministers  and  generaL**.  lie 
suggested  a  route  for  J3urgoyne  which,  had  fortune  favored 
instead  of  thw.arting  it,  would  have  been  far  more  advan- 
tageous and  would  have  enabled  Burgoyne  to  reach  his 
objective,  Albany,  without  <loubt.  The  movement  on 
this  point,  in  1777,  was  simply  reversing  the  plan  which 
was  triumplumt  against  Canada  in  1759.  Alas  for  England, 
there  was  no  Pitt  at  the  head  (»f  military  and  colonial 
affairs  in  1777,  only  a  St.  (n'rmaine;  no  Wolfe,  but  a 
Hurgoyne:  no  Amherst,  but  a  Howe  and  then  a  Clinton  : 
no  Prideaux  or  Sir  William  Johnson,  but  a  St.  Leger. 
Sir  William  Johnson's  son  might  have  rivalled  his  father's 
fortune  had  o])portunity  favored  or  circumstances  [)ei'- 
mitted.  Like  that  of  1759,  the  o})erations  of  1777  were 
not  simple,  but  com})lex,  tri])le.  In  1759,  Quebec  was  the 
first  objective.  Against  it  Wolfe  asceiuled  the  St.  l^aAv- 
rence,  Amherst  ascended  the  Hudson  and  descended  Lake 


Tlx     liOtfh    of  Oritfhiln;/. 


XfV 


Chaiiijdaiii.  Jiiid   Pridciuix,   at'terwimls  .lolmsoii,  usccmmUmI 
the  Mohawk  and  ('Jii)turo(l  Niai;arii.      In  1777,  PuriijoyiK' as- 
cended  Lake  (Jlianiplain  and  descended  tlie  Ihulson;  St. 
Le_i;er  ascended  tlie  St.   Lawrence  and  descended  the  Mo 
hawk;  and  Howe  (afterwards  Clinton)  wjis  to  ascend  tlie 
Hudson.      The  Hurijjoyne  of  1777,  would  have  reached  his 
i;oal  luul   he  heen  the   Buru'oyne  of  17<»:i,  and  estinuited, 
as  then,  the  value  of  time,  and  reniend»ere<l  the  orders  (jf 
his  great  nuister  in  the  art  of   war.    Count  de  la   Lippe, 
through  which  he  avoided,  in  1  7<'»2.  a  catastro]»he  similar 
to  that    of  Saratoija.      Evervthiuir   contrihute<l    to  insure 
the  Burijovne  fiasco.   Where  Carleton  would  ha\-e  succeeded 
Burgoyne  must  have  failed.      The  most  important  function 
was   entrusted    to   St.    Lei;er   with    the    most    inade([uate 
means.     St.   Leger  was  greatly  to  blame  because  he  did 
not  listen  to  Sir  .John  Johnson  and  Colonel  Daniel  Clans, 
and  because  he  underestimated  the  adversaries  he  had  to 
encounter  and  the  obstacles    he    had  to  overcome.     The 
greatest  cul])rit,   however,  was  Sir  William    Howe,    "the 
most  iiuU)lent  of  mortals,'"  apathy  itself,   who,   with  or- 
dinary judgment,  energy,  and  even  a  spirit  of  lukewarm 
camaraderhu  could  have  even  remedied  the  shortconnngs  of 
Burirovne  aiul  the  blunders  of  St.   Leger.     If  Ilowe  had 
so  manamvred   in  the  .lerseys  as  to  occupy  the  attention 
of  Washington,   simply  demonstrating    in    his  trout   with 
half  his  army,   which   half  was  fully  (Mpial  to   the  whole 
force  under  Washington   at  this  time,  iu'  could  have  dis- 
patched (it  laist  700(1  men  uj>  tlie   Hudson  to  co-operate 
witli  Hury-ovne.      H'   Bui'govne  had  attended  to  his  busi- 


\C\  I 


riu     liOttlr   of   (h'ixkmni. 


iiess  tliorouijlily,  uiid  iU'tcd  witli  iiiterju'isc  utkI  audsicity, 
and  if  St.  Lci-vr  luid  liiid  from  1.500  to  L>00()  whites,  instead 
of  ahoiit  400,  the  history  of  this  coiitiiient  woidd  have 
l»een  totally  different.  All  however  hinged,  Hrst  on 
Howe's  pai'alyziiii;  Wasliinu:;ton.  second  on  St.  Lei^er's 
cleaninn'  out  the  M<diawk  Valley.  The  eain]»ai<;'n  of  1777, 
as  reiiiirds  the  British,  was  a  ^larini;'  part  of  a  tissue  of 
hlunders.  The  colonies  were  at  their  mercy  if  they  had 
used  tlie  forces,  moral  and  [)hysical,  undei'  their  control 
with  any  jud<;-ment — simple  common  sense.  The  Duke 
do  Lau/.un  and  other  competent  military  jud<j^e8  contii-m 
these  views. 

It  is  ridiculous,  however,  in  a  mere  military  point  of 
view,  to  claim  tliat  all  the  advantai>;es  in  this  contest  were 
in  favor  of  the  i>i"itish.  They  miij^ht  have  heon,  had 
they  utilized  the  Loyalists,  respected  them,  shown  eneruy 
and  activity,  and  forcjotten  professional  conceit  and  iner- 
tion  in  zeal  for  the  crown  and  patriotic  desire  to  maintain 
and  extend  the  iJjlory  of  the  imperial  dominion.  The 
Jiritish,  like  Najjoleon  in  Russia,  were  con({uere(l  by 
space.  Paradox  as  it  may  seem  to  be,  discipline,  ric^id 
martinet  regulation,  may  actually,  under  some  conditions, 
become  a  disadvanta<!:e.  Marksmen  M'ith  some  idea  of 
<lrill  may  be  better  than  strictly  line  rei2:ulars  in  a  new, 
a  wooded,  and  a  rough  or  mountainous  counti'y.  The 
range  of  heights  extending  from  northeast  to  southwest 
across  New  Jersey,  the  broken  elevations  and  extensive 
marshes  around  Morristown,  as  a  central  citadel,  and 
the  spur  shot  out  into  the  plain  opposite  the  elbow  of  the 


7//<     liatflt    Iff  Oi'ixkunij. 


XCVIl 


Iviiritan,  hetwcoii  l^ouiid  P.r<»oI<  and  Middle  Jjrook,  witli 
its  ^Mps  for  sallv-ports,  saved  tlie  iViiierieah  {'aiise.  Niini- 
liers  and  hiih  mom  the  first  tii^dit  at  lloosio  {hiis-nanhf/ 
lU'iiiiiiii^toii),  and  tlioii,  wlieii  iiidisci|)line,  dissolved  in 
]>liinderin^',  needed  tlie  supj)ort  of  <lisci]>line,  in  the 
second  %ht,  Warner  eanie  in  witli  his  Continentals  or 
reijulars.  ^fan  for  man,  the  eoh.nists  were  as  ijood  as 
tlie  best,  I^ritish,  and,  hein^i;  irHliiuj,  better  than  the 
(iennans  ////-vvillinij:  combatants.  Why  not?  They  were 
all  tlio  same  race,  and  the  world  has  yet  to  see  its  e(jual 
as  enchirin^^  and  c()nrao:eous  soldiers. 

And  here  it  is  i)ertinent   to    the  (occasion  to  remark, 
that  the  declamation  and  slirieks  of  the  Americans  at  tlie 
emidoyment  of  the   Indians  by  the  British  is  the  sheerest 
hypocrisy.     They  would  liave  enlisted  tlie  tomahawk  and 
scal])in<j:-l<nife  Avithont    the    sliirhtest    re])U_iriiance    if  thej 
could  have  bid  as  lii^h  as  the  crown,  or  would  have  paid 
cash  down  as  honestly.      If  the  assistance  of  the  sava,i?es 
was  nefarious,   the  Americans  would    not   liav(^  objected 
to  its  utilization  on  that  account,  if  they  could  have  con- 
tracted for,  coerced,  cajoled  oi-  controlled  it.      Lucky  for 
tlie  Americans  a  factious  opposition  in  Ejiuland  and  Par- 
liament used  the  American  AVar  as  a  weapon  of  offence 
against  the  crown,  just  as  the  Whigs  in  America  ])rofessed 
loyalty  to  the  King,  but  opposition,  nay  bitter  animosity, 
to    the   Ministry  and    Parliament.      As    (4en.    i).    S.    W. 
wrote    (from    Innsbruck,    1!>,    7,     1SS2),      -The    Eu<rlish 
government,  like  our  own,  is  a  government  of  ])arty  ;  and 
the   consideration  of  gaining  or  losing  ])arty-ca])ital  out- 


' 


f! 


.\('\  111 


'I'hi     Jhittli    of  (fri-sliinnj. 


W{'i_i:;lis  ii!l  otluTs."  '' Of  course  tlui  tliiiii?  [Ef^yj)t|  was 
badly  II Mumjicd  in  many  rt'Spccts."  Kiiirlish  taction  nearly 
mined  Wellinjzton  in  Spain  and  colonial  coni;ressi(»nal 
discordances  and  jealousies  very  nearly  occasioned  a  worse 
late  tor  Wasliiniiton.  Even  the  liberally  praised  Cbatliani, 
in  bis  hypocritical  (k'nunciation  of  settin*;;  the  Indian 
bloodhounds  uj»on  the  colonists,  was  rejiroved  or  shewn 
U})  by  General.  Lord  Andierst,  and  rebuked  by  the  pro- 
duction of  his  orders,  when  I'riine  Minister,  for  lettini; 
tlieni  loose  ui)on  the  French.  The  Americans  courted 
the  assistance  of  the  Indians  with  assiduity,  but  the 
bitter  foresaw  the  fate  which  would  attend  tbo  success 
of  the  colonists,  as  tlieir  chiefs  in  council  foretold,  and 
i-eiiiained  faithful  to  tlie  old  country,  which  bad  always 
})rotected  and  fostered  them  and  treated  them  witb  jus- 
tice and  forbearance. 

This  fact — ;just  referred  to — in  connection  with  the 
employment  of  Indians,  which  is  too  little  known,  is 
apposite  to  the  su})port  of  the  American  devolution  in 
I^arliament.  The  Earl  of  Chatham  (Pitt)  denounced  in 
the  House  of  Lords  the  emjiloyment  of  the  wild  Indians 
in  conjunction  witb  tlie  British  troops,  altbou<,di  lie  himself, 
nineteen  years  before,  had  used  Indians  in  the  same  man- 
ner  airninst  the  French  and  the  Canadians.  In  advocatinf; 
bis  views  be  waxed  still  more  loud  and  indignant,  "pour- 
ing out  fresh  volumes  of  wn>rds."  ''Ministers  then  otfered 
to  produce,  from  the  depository  of  papers  in  the  Secre- 
tary's office,  documents  MM-itten  by  himself  to  prove  the 
charge.     The  dispute  grew  still    hotter;    and   at   length 


TIk     Ihitth    of  <h'isl'(()iil. 


XCIX 


Lonl  Amlicrst,  Cliatliaiii's  jjfoncral,  wlio  had  coimnanded 
oiir  [the  P>ritish|  troops  in  tliat  raiiach'an  war,  \va.>  so 
loudly  ajijii'ah.'d  to  on  all  si<k's,  that  lie  found  hi)nnelt' 
conipt'lUMl  to  acknowk'dii't'  that  hi-  liad  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  the  Frencli  in  employini;  .sava,<j:e.s,  whicli  he  would 
not  have  done  tritltinif  t.rj)ri'tis  orders  from  (jovc.rninent  at 
houu'.  He  even  ott'e  .d  to  j»ro(hu*e  the  ordei'y,  if  Ills 
Jiiajesty  would  permit    him."         '"  *•;<** 

L(^rd  Denhiuh  rather  liappily  called  ('hatham  •'Tlu- 
•i'reat  oracle  with  the  short  nieniory,"  and  stated  that 
"Chatham,  wlieu  in  office  under  George  II.,  had  guided 
and  directed  everything  i-elating  to  the  war;  had  monopo- 
lized functions  which  did  not  belong  to  him,  and  had  been 
excessively  jeah)us  of  any  interference  hy  others,  whether 
boards  or  ministers.'*' 

The  Lords  who  supported  Chatham  now  seemed  in- 
clined to  lay  the  question  hy,  as  fai-  as  it  concerned  his 
veracity  or  correctness  of  memory.  According  to  Lord 
Brougham,  when  Lord  Ihite  heard  wliat  had  passed  (jn 
this  occasion  in  the  House  of  Lords,  and  that  Chatliani 
had  denied  his  having  employed  tlie  red  men  (or  Indians), 
he  exclaimed  with  astonishment,  "Did  Pitt  really  deny 
it?  Why,  I  have  his  letter  still  l)y  me,  singing  lo  Ptvanii 
of  the  advantages  we  were  to  gain  through  our  Indian 
allies."  As  a  poMtical  (piestion,  Whigs  against  Tories,  the 
cause  of  the  Colonies  was  fought  with  as  much  virulence 
with  words,  in  Parliament,  as,  with  weapons,  In  America, 
and  in  many  cases  with  just  as  much  principle. 

Let  the  consideration,  however,  confine  itself  to  Cris- 
is 


c  Tliii  Battle  of,  Oriskany. 

kany.  It  was  the  tunuiig  point  of  the  Burgoyne  campaign 
and  of  the  American  Ilevohition.  Witliin  the  scope  of 
tlie-  considerations  before  dwelt  upon,  it  was  tlie  Thermo- 
pylae of  the  Colonies. 

In  regard  to  the  numbers  at  Oriskany  there  are  such 
discrepancies  in  the  various  accounts  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  reconcile  them.  The  Americans  exaggerate 
the  English  mnnbers  to  excuse  Ilarkheimer's  coming  short 
of  decided  success,  and  to  exalt  the  determination  of  the 
garrison.  IIow  many  the  latter  comprised  is  by  no  means 
certain.  Stedman  (4to,  I.,  384)  says  750  men,  but  Gen. 
Carrington,  V.  S.  A.,  one  of  the  most'careful  of  investiga- 
tors, uses  language  (328)  that  would  justify  the  belief  that 
it  consisted  of  1>60  men.  If  only  750  ' '  under  cover ' '  it  ought 
still  to  have  been  a  full  match  for  the  whole  heterogeneous 
corps  that  St.  Leger  brought  against  it.  The  "Burgoyne 
scare  "  was  upon  the  whole  country  and  the  garrison  of  Fort 
Stanwix  felt  the  eifects  of  it. 

Prior  to  the  discovery  of  Johnson's  Orderly  Book,  it 
has  always  been  .stated  that  St.  Leger  had  675  white 
trooi)s  with  him  :  the  Orderly  Book,  however,  distinctly 
shows  that  only  500  rations  were  issued.  This  demon- 
strates conclusively  that  the  M'hite  troops,  at  most,  could 
not  have  exceeded  that  numbe. .  The  Americans,  to  swell 
the  numbers  of  British  and  Loval  Provincials  under  Col. 
Ferguson,  encountered  at  King's  Mountain,  7th  October, 
1780,  based  their  calculations  on  the  Ration  lieturns 
found  in  the  captured  camp. 

The  same  rule  of  judgment  in  justice  should  apply  to  the 


The  Battle  of  OrUlxanij. 


ci 


force  under  St.  Leger.     The  difference  betM-een  400  and  075 
can  be  easily  acconnted  for  in  various  ways,  even  if  exact 
proof  did  not  exist  to  establisli  tlie  smaller  number.     Ex- 
perts, including  Xapoleon,  consider  that  an  army  of  100,000 
on  paper  rarely  can  put  S0,000  effectives  in  the  field.     In 
a   new  country   subject    to   local   fevers,   when    men    are 
called  upon  to  discharge  the  severest  labors  at  the  hottest 
period  of  the  year,  this  ratio  would,  most  likelv,  be  i>-reatlv 
increased.     Consequently,  if  St.  Leger  had  OTo  at  Lachine, 
near  Montreal,  it  would  not  bo  extraordinary  if  he  left  a 
number  of  wivalids  behind,  besides  those,  especially  indivi- 
duals foreign  to  the  counti-y  and  service,  who  dro])ped  out 
on  the  road.     There  is  no  mention  in  this  Orderlv  Book 
of  a  list  of  sick  or  casualties,  and  yet  it  is  impossible  l)ut 
that    there   must    have    been   both.     A   highly   educated 
pedant  argued  that  the  Romans  had  no  Medical  Depart- 
ment, because  Ca?sar  does  not  mention  one  in  his  Com- 
mentaries.    His  reasonings  were   completely  demolished 
by  the  observation  that,  on  the  same  plea,  C^sar  had  no  dis- 
eases in  his  camp,  because  he  does  not  allude  to  them  in 
any  of  the  accounts  of  his  campaigns,  which  is  Avhat  the 
scholars  call  an  argumentum  ad  ahsurdum. 

The  statement  attributed  to  St.  Leger,  that  he  had  675 
Avhite  troops,  he  never  made.  It  is  a  deduction  of  their 
own  by  American  writers,  to  make  c:ood  their  case.  Anv 
reader  desirous  of  investigating  this  can  easily  refer  to  the 
reports  made  by  St.  Leger  to  ]^>urgoyne  and  also  to  Carle- 
ton.  These  figures  are  not  in  either:  Where  then  are 
these    numbers   to    be    found  ?      In   a   letter   from   Lord 


.1 

m 


Cll 


Thr  Battle  of  Orlskany. 


George  Germain  to  General  Carleton,  20tli  March,  1777, 
he  says : 

"From  the  King's  knowledge  of  the  great  preparations  made 
by  you  last  year  to  secure  the  command  of  the  lakes,  and  your  atten- 
tion to  this  part  of  the  service  during  the  winter,  his  ^lajesty  is  led 
to  expect  that  everything  will  he  ready  for  General  Biirgoyne's  pass- 
ing the  lakes  by  the  time  you  and  he  sliall  have  adjusted  the  pun  of 
the  expedition. 

'•  It  is  the  King's  further  pleasure  that  you  put  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  St.  Leger, 

"Detachment  from  the  8th  Regiment,     .     .     .     100 

Detachment  fnmi  the  ;j4th  Regiment,  .     .     .     100 

Sir  John  Johnson's  Regiment  of  New  York,    133 

Hanaii  Chasseurs 343 

67.-) 

"  Together  with  a  sufficient  number  of  Canadians  and  Indians;  and 
after  having  furnished  him  with  proper  artillery,  stoi'cs,  provisions, 
and  every  other  necessary  article  for  hi,-  expedition,  and  secured  to 
him  every  assistance  in  your  power  to  afford  and  procure,  you  are  to 
give  him  orders  to  proceed  forthwith  to  and  down  the  ^lohawk  River 
to  Albany,  and  put  himself  under  the  command  of  Sir  William  Howe." 

Mark  this :  not  Burgoyne,  hut  Sir  William  Howe,  who 
was  expected  to  co-operate,  hut  did  not,  partly  hecause 
through  the  indolence  of  his  superior,  Lord  St.  Germain, 
lie  did  not  receive  his  orders  on  time. 

On  the  2Sth  February,  one  month  previous,  Burgoyne 
considers  that  even  a  smaller  force  than  the  675  assigned 
by  St.  Leger  would  be  sufficient.  Tie  oidy  mentions  233 
white  troops.     These  are  his  exact  words : 

"  Not,  to  argue  from  probability,  is  so  much  force  necessary  for 
this  diversion  this  year,  as  was  required  for  the  last;  because  we 
then  knew  that  General  Schuyler,  with  a  thousand  men,  was  fortified 
upon  the  Mohawk.  When  the  different  situations  of  things  are  con- 
sidered, viz.,  the  progress  of  General  Howe,  the  early  invasion  from 


.<  • 


The  Battle  of  Orislaity. 


cm 


Canada,  the  tliroatening  of  the  Cnnnecticut  from  Rhode  Island,  &c., 
it  is  not  to  be  imairined  that  any  detachment  of  sueh  foree  as  tiiatof 
Scliuyler  can  be  supplied  by  tiie  enemy  for  the  Moliawlv.  I  tvould  not 
therefore  propose  it  of  more  (and  I  liave  ij;reat  dithdence  wliether  so 
much  can  1)e  prudently  atlorded)  than  Sir  John  Johnson's  corps,  an 
hundred  British  from  the  Second  Bri,u;ade,  and  an  hundred  more  from 
the  8th  Ue.ii'inK-nt,  with  four  pieces  of  tlie  lightest  artillery,  and  a  body 
of  savages  ;  Sir  Jolm  Jolmson  to  be  with  a  detaciiment  in  person,  and 
an  able  field  oflieer  to  command  it.  I  should  wish  Lieutenant-Colonel 
St.  Leger  for  that  emploj-ment." 

How  itiaiiy  men,  tlien,  did  St.  Leo:ei' have  ?  Stedman 
states  he  had  "  a  body  ofliglit  troops  and  Indians,  amount- 
ing to  between  TOO  and  800  men."  Carrington  calls  it  a 
"composite  army  of  regulars,  Ilessian-chasseurs,  Royal- 
greens,  Canadians,  axemen,  and  non-combatants,  who,  as 
well  as  the  Indians,  proved  an  ultimate  incumbrance  and 
curse  to  the  expedition."  St.  Leger  did  not  have  342 
Hanau-chasseurs,  nor  anything  like  it.  This  is  now  known 
to  be  an  error  ;  he  had  only  one  company.  AVhy  ?  Be- 
cause only  one  company  had  arrived  when  he  started.  It 
was  commanded  by  a  1st  Lieutenant,  Jacob  llilderbrand. 
There  could  be  no  mistake  here,  because  Germans  are  the 
most  methodical  people,  and  the  journals  of  many  of  their 
officers  exist,  which  were  written  with  no  ideaof  their  ever 
seeing  the  light  in  print,  Avith  no  intent  to  deceive  or  to 
influence  public  opinion.  What  is  more,  a  company  at 
that  time  ranged  from  50  to  SO ;  in  the  English  Guards, 
always  kept  full,  8(  is  the  figure  (178S) ;  50  to  120,  num- 
ber never  fixed  (James,  ISIO,  Iloyt,  1811).  Had  more 
than  a  companv  been  sent,  a  hii::her  officer  than  a  1st 
Lieutenant   would  have   been    placed    in    command.     Sir 


CIV 


The  Jjdttlc  of  Orlsk'ani/. 


Jolin's  reii'iiiieiit,  or  battalion,  only  nnniLered  183.  The 
great  mistake  is  the  item  generally  (juoted,  342,  Nvliieh 
should  he  under  50.  If  people  would  read  carefully  they 
would  avoid  many  serious  errors  which  serve  to  feed  and 
stimulate  })0})ular  vanity.  Col.  (^'laus  corroborates  von 
Eeiking.  "And  here  [at  Buck's  Island]  the  [>rig'r  had  still 
an  op]>ortunity  and  time  for  sending  for  a  better  train  of 
artillery,  aixl  ^r<iit  for  thr  junction  of  the  [Ilesse-IIanau] 
Chasseurs^  vhlch  must ha>'r Hicured  ux  success^  as  every  one 
will  allow.  "^  Again  below  Claus  expressly  mentions  "•<< 
co.Mi'AW  of  i'Jiassejirs  latelv  arrived."  Can  lanmiaue  be 
clearer  and  more  munistakable.  The  2)roptn\  or  real, 
not  the  lut<-nth:(l.  or  ideal,  enumeration  would  give  St. 
Leger  about  3S0  organized  troops,  besides  Rangers.  Here 
again  people  are  led  into  a  serious  error  because  they 
desire  S(j  to  be.  Butler,  and  other  officers  belonii-ino;  to 
the  Bangers,  did  not  have  regular  white  commands  at 
()riskany,  but,  as  ({jficcrs^  were  distributed  among  the 
Indians  U)  steady  them.  This  Avas  accordin<>-  to  French 
militar}'  usage;  otHcers,  in  France,  at  this  time,  were  often 
multi[)lied  in  certain  regiments  to  insure  solidity  by 
example  and  intluence.  Such  a  course  was  much  more 
a  necessity  among  undisciplined  savages.  When  Butler 
got  back  to  Quebec  he  could  only  collect  or  muster  fifty  out 
of  all  he  had  had  or  had.  There  was,  it  is  true,  quite  a 
numerous  staif  of  Whites  serving  with  the  Indians.  The 
discovery  of  the  "  Orderly  Book  "  should  settle  the  mat- 
ter.  The  number  of  rations  issued  would  not  have  been 
falsified.     This  establishes  the  fact  that  there  must  have 


Thf  Batths  of  Orlslani/. 


cv 


been  coiisidenil)lv  less  tliiin  500  to  receive  tliein,  since, 
before  rations  were  comrantcd,  officers  were  entitled  to 
more  than  one,  especially  when  they  had  servants  to  feed, 
and  in  those  davs  no  connnissioned  officer  took  the  field 
withont  one  or  more  servants.  Colonel  Claus,  De])uty, 
Acting  Superintendent  of  the  Indians,  is  very  explicit  in 
his  letter  to  Secretary  Knox,  lie  blames  St.  Leger  for  mis- 
cak-nlatint;  the  force  and  etHciencv  of  the  enemv  and  for 
not  taking  with  him  more  troops  and  more  powerful  artil- 
lery when  he  could  have  had  a  full  sufficiency  of  botli.-^ 
Undoubtedlv  there  Avere  detachments  from  the  8th 
(Major,  afterwards  Colonel,  A.  S.  de  Peyster's  Regiment) 
and  34th  (St.  Leger' s  own)  Regiments.  P>.  A.  of  100  each  ; 
Sir  John  Johnson's  Royal-greens,  133  ;  and  a  company  of 
Chasseurs  or  Riflemen  lately  arrived  in  Canada,  from  Ger- 
many,  which  exactly  tallies  with  von  Eelking's  published 


*  Col.  Claus,  in  liis  letter  of  tlie  16th  October.  1777,  to  Secretary 
Kuox,  shows  tliiit  St.  Lesier  himself  alone  was  to  blame  for  not  having 
a  sufficiency  of  artillery  of  the  proi)er  calibre  in  his  expedition  against 
Fort  Stanwix.  Col.  Claus  demonstrates  that  the  Americans  expected 
the  siege  which  followed,  and  prisoners  taken  agreed  in  their  story  re- 
vealing the  precautions  necessary  to  insure  success.  St.  Leger  con- 
cedes that  "if  they  | Americans]  intended  to  defend  th( mselves  in  that 
fort  [Stanwix],  our  [British]  artillery  was  not  sufficient  to  take  it." 
"The  Brig'r."  (St.  Leger)  had  still  an  opportunity  and  time  of  sending 
for  a  better  train  of  artillery,  and  Avait  for  the  junction  of  the  Cluis- 
seurs  (German  .Taegers)  which  must  have  secured  us  success,  as  every 
one  will  allow."  Here  we  have  a  repetition  of  the  self-sufficiency  of 
Braddock  and  the  rejection  of  the  Avise  counsels  of  Provincial  otlicers 
like  AVashington,  in  this  case  represented  by  Sir  John  .Johnson  and 
Col,  Daniel  Claus.  Oh  hackneyed  but  eternally  applicable  truism  of 
Euripides  :  "  But  the  diemon  (directing  spirit),  Avhen  he  devises  any 
mlochief  against  a  man,  tirst  perverts  (or  stultifies)  his  friend." 


CVl 


The  Battle  of  Oriffkanf/. 


account.  These  Jire  all  the  white  ti-oojts  lie  mentions. 
Tlie  best  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations  were  with  Burgoyne. 
The  sum  total  of  the  savages  with  St.  Leger,  according  to 
Col.  Daniel  Chius,  their  Sui)erinten(lant  in  the  absence  of 
Col.  (iu\  Johnson,  was  SOO.  Among  these  were  150 
Mississaugues,  who  were  acccj)te(l  as  a  Seventh  by  the 
Six  Nations,  in  174r!,  but  the  alliance  did  not  long  continue. 
In  1755  the  Irocpiois  Confederation  found  their  Seventh 
member  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  The  fact  is  there  never 
were  over  Five  Nations :  even  the  Sixth,  the  Tuscaroras, 
did  not  stand  on  an  e([ual  footing  with  the  original  Five; 
they  were  sim]>ly  tolerated.  The  IMississaugues  were 
afterwards  expelled  or  dropped  from  the  Confederation. 
They  were  a  nnserable  set,  ^' drunk  and  riotous  from  the 
start,"  unreliable  throughout,  robbers  and  murderers  of 
the  associated  Whites  at  the  end.  They  came  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Lake  Nippissing,  to  the  northward  of 
Georgian  Bay.  Gordon  (American)  puts  St.  Leger's  In- 
dians "at  700  warriors,  who,  with  their  wives,  children, 
other  men  and  women,  made  up  1400."  Deduct  the  non- 
combatants  and  Indians  ett'ectives  and  this,  again,  demon- 
strates the  nundjer  of  white  soldiers,  rank  and  file,  repre- 
sented by  500  rations,  less  than  400.  The  Americans 
estimated  the  King's  troops  at  King's  Mountain  at  1125, 
from  the  numbei*  of  rations  issued  that  morning  according 
to  the  returns  captured  ;  whereas,  it  is  well-known,  accord- 
ing to  the  Diary  of  Lieut.  Allaire,  recovered  within  two 
years,  that  Ferguson  had  only  906  or  907,  of  whom  over 
800  were  raw  militia. 


Tilt:  Battle  of  Orhl'iUnj. 


evil 


Whv  St.  Leii'CM'  took  with  liliii  so  few  men  uiul  sucli 
injide(|iuite  cannon  is  due  to  the  suj)ei-cilious  disrey'ard 
lujinit'ested  \>\  ])rotessional  I>ritish  otiicials  for  the  advice 
of  American  provincial  otficer.s.  All  the  ability  he  did 
show  was  due  to  the  advice  of  Sii"  John  Johnson  (Stone's 
"Brant,"  I.,  :2:26).  Whei-ever  he  did  so,  ho  was  successful, 
and  where  he  did  not,  he  failed.  Had  J>raddock  followed  the 
councils  of  Colonel  Washinii'ton,  he  would  have  escaped 
the  catastrophe  in  whicli  he  fell,  in  July,  1755.  Had  St. 
Lcijrer  listened  to  the  suiju'estions  of  Colonel  Claus,*  he 
would  have  succeeded  in  August,  1777.  Could  Colonel 
(actini;  Briuadier)  PY'rixusonf  have  divested  himself  of  his 


*  Col.  Daniel  Glaus,  writiiiir  to  Secretary  Knox,  6tli  November,  1777, 
shows  liow  tlie  jealousies  artectinc;  the  supersedure  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
by  Bur<j:oyne  were  fatal  to  all  the  ojierations  of  this  camiiaiirn.  Col. 
Clans,  on  applyinir  to  Sir  (tuv  for  orders,  was  told  he  had  none  to  give, 
and  that  he  (Claus)  might  do  as  he  pleased.  This  was  a  curious  re- 
mark for  a  chief  to  make  to  a  subordinate.  One  fact  of  interest  is  dis- 
closed by  this  letter,  viz.,  that  Sir  John  Johnson,  after  the  failure  at 
Fort  Stanwix,  was  to  proceed  to  join  Burgoyne.  Why  he  did  not  is 
exjilained  by  the  concluding  sentence  of  this  i)aragraph  of  the  connnu- 
nication  of  Col.  Claus:  "Such  I'riques  [freaksvl  and  jealousies  I  am 
afraid  have  been  rather  hurtful  to  our  Northern  operations  last  cam- 
paign."   Verily!     (Col.  Doe.,  VIII.,  725.) 

f  Johnson  and  Claus  told  St.  Leger  what  he  wanted  and  what  to  do, 
and  he  would  not  hearken,  and  did  not  succeed.  De  Peyster  advised  Fer- 
guson as  to  the  character  of  his  opponents,  and  he  was  not  listened  to. 
Americans  knew  Americans  better  than  Britishers.  The  result  was, 
St.  Leger  failed  and  Ferguson  fell,  and  with  the  failure  of  the  one  and 
the  fall  of  the  other,  it  was  not  the  interests  of  England  that  suflered 
only,  because  the  "  mother  country "'  came  out  of  the  war  richer,  greater 
and  mightier  than  ever,  but  the  Loyalists,  dupes  of  their  faith  in  the 
Home  Government,  her  ability  to  conquer,  and  her  determination  to 
preserve  the  rights  of  all,  to  punish  the  guilty  and  to  recompense  the 
faithful. 

15 


:    i 


CVlll 


The  Batth'  of  Ovlshouj. 


contempt  for  the  Mouiitaiii-inen  lie  would  not  have  sacri- 
ticcd  his  (letachiuent  in  ( )etober,  17S0.  Ciii)tain  (actini:: Col- 
onel) de  Peyster,  an  American  Provincial,  his  second  in  com- 
mand, knew  the  value  of  the  exc^nisite  ])iekcd  shari)sh()oters 
who  were  about  to  assail  his  superior,  in  tar  preponderatinnj 
nundiers.  Tie  indicated  the  course  which  would  have 
secured  immediate  relief  and  eventual  success.  Feri^uson 
was  too  fearless  or  perhaj)s  reckless  to  listen  to  his  sub- 
ordinate and  the  result  was  a  defeat  from  which  the  Eng- 
lish never  recovered  at  the  South.  It  was  exactly  the 
same  with  the  French  regulars.  They  would  never  pay 
the  slightest  heed  to  the  warning  of  the  Canadian  provin- 
cial leaders,  experts  in  forest-craft  and  Indian  fighting, 
and  tlms  the  Bourbons  lost  New  France.  Arroirance  in 
epaulets  will  never  listen  to  exoteric  experience.  Mem- 
bers of  a  caste  or  hierarchy  never  pay  due  attention  to 
the  sajTacity  of  intuitive  external  practical  observation 
which  does  not  exhibit  the  tonsure  or  the  shoulder-strap. 
West  Point  and  the  regular  army  pooh !  pooh !  silently 
or  audibly,  everything  that  is  not  stamped  with  their 
cabalistic  emblems  or  has  not  joined  in  the  chorus  "Benny 
Havens,  Oh  !"  It  has  been  so  since  the  world  began,  and 
brave  men  M'ill  be  massacred  through  "red  tape  "  until  the 
era  of  common-sense  arrives,  if  it  ever  does  come,  to  bless 
mortalitv — until  the  descent  of  the  Xew  Jerusalem. 

ft/ 

How  many  men  had  Ilarkheimer  ?  Estinuites  vary  from 
800  to  1000.  There  were  four  rejjiments  of  militia,  some 
faithful  Oneidas,  numerous  volunteers  of  all  ranks,  a  bloom 
of  colonels  and  officials,  and  a  few  mounted  men.     By  how 


Till    linttlii  of  Oi'lslant/. 


CIX 


many  was  Ilarklioiiiiei'  anilmscadod  at  first  ?  Xot- near  as 
many  as  lie  liimst'lt'  had.  St.  Legor  says  that,  when  Sir 
Jolin  was  alloMC'd  to  phm  and  traj)  tlie  Americans,  lie  had 
not  200  of  the  King's  troops  in  camp,  and  he  could  only 
spare  to  the  Baronet  80  white  men,  Kangers  and  Troops, 
Sir  John's  IJglit  Company,  the  Ilanau  liitlemen,  and  But- 
ler Avitli  a  lew  Officers  and  liangers  and  the  whole  corps  of 
the  Indians.  Here  again  is  incontrovertible  circumstantial 
proof  that  St.  Leger's  white  troops,  present  and  detached, 
assembled  and  scattered  between  his  camp  and  his  depot, 
or  ])ase,  at  Fort  Bull  <;n  Wood  Creek,  did  not  exceed  from 
350  to  400  men.  After  the  Indians  had  Hunked  and  be- 
haved so  badly  the  remainder  of  the  "  lloyal  Greens  "  were 
quickstepi)ed  into  the  light,  whicli  would  not  have  added 
100  to  the  force  besetting  Ilarkhenner.  Consequently  the 
latter  could  not  have  been  eiii^afired  at  anv  time  with  as 
many  as  200  wdiites.* 

*  Mr.  Stone  (pages  e  and/)  emplmsizes  the  fact  that  Stei)Iien  Watts 
i.  only  mentioned  as  Captain  in  tlie  "  Orderlj-  Book,"  whereas  lie  was 
generally  known  as  ^lajor.  If  he  had  turned  to  his  own  no*e  on  the  snb- 
ject  of  Enu'lish  rank,  the  diserepancy  would  at  once  be  e.\i)lained.  It  is 
very  unlikely  that  a  man's  brother,  at  a  i)eriod  when  the  lines  of  titular 
distinction  were  tirmly  drav-n  and  closely  observed,  would  not  have 
known  the  rank  borne  by  a  brother  of  whom  he  was  ])rond,  or  the  name 
of  the  corjis  to  which  he  belonged.  Stephen  Watts,  of  Oriskany,  was  a 
great  favorite  in  his  family,  and  designated  by  the  most  afleetionate 
epithets.  What  is  more,  there  were  a  variety  of  titles  of  rank  in  the 
British  Army  at  that  time,  two  or  more  of  which  were  often  borne  by 
the  same  individual.  A  man  might  be  a  "line"  Captain,  very  likely 
"brevet"  Major  or  Lieutenant-Colonel,  a  "local,"  "temporary"  or 
"  provincial "  Colonel  or  Brigadier,  and  a  militia  Major-General.  In 
some  eases  he  did  no^  receive  an  actual  commission,  but  was  delegated 
in  writing  to  act  as  such  or  thus.     Sir  Jolm  Johnson,  Bart,  held  com- 


I  .' 


C'X 


Thi    BnttJi'  of  OrlKk-(in>j. 


As  to  how  iiiiiiiy  tlic  Anicriciiiis  lost  is  {uiotlu'i- (lis|iutt'(l 
point,  St.  Lcixcr  sjivs  in  liis  <liti('ivnt  n-jioits  that  not  over 
200  (out  of  SOO  or  !MI0)  cscaiKMl.  The  snialk'st  list  of'thoir 
casualties  eoini»rises  1<!<I  kille(l  and  ahoiit  200  wounded 
and  ju'isoners. 

In  some  respects,  Gordon,  take  him  all  In  all,  is  the 
best  authority  for  the  American  Revolution  M'hen   In  ac- 


niissions  ns  ^rajor-Gencral  of  Militia,  as  Rri^ailirr-Gi'iicral  of  tlic  Pro- 
vincial troops  (21st  OctolaT,  1782),  and  the  date  of  his  ('(mimission  as 
"  Suijcrintcndcnt-Ueiu'ral  and  InsixTtor-Gcnoral  of  tlic  Six  Nations 
of  Indiinis  and  their  Confederates  of  all  the  Indian  nations  inhabitinc; 
Oiu-  i'rovincc  of  (^uibi  c  and  the  Frontiers,"  is  of  March  14th.  17H2. 
In  1777,  as  Lientcnant-Colond,  he  was  comniandinif  his  rejiiment. 

Here  a^ain  ]Mr.  Stone  Is  emphatic.  "He  says  that  this  regiment 
is  nowlicrc  mentioned  as  the  "  Itoyal  Greens."  They  mnst  liave  been 
known  as  sneh  or  else  they  would  not  have  been  thus  desi^niated  in 
tlie  histories  written  nifj/iest  to  their  period.  Any  discrepancy  here 
again  is  susce])tiblc  of  hieid  solution.  At  lirst  it  was  determined  to 
uniform  the  Provincial  corps  in  irreen,  and  some  were  orii^imdly 
clothed  in  this  color,  but  Iiadit  chaniicd  ;  others,  e.xceotions  to  the  rule, 
retained  it  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Doubtless  for  valid  reasons,  not  now 
known,  it  was  found  more;  advantaireous  or  economical  to  issue  to  the 
Provincials  clothes  of  the  same  color  as  those  worn  by  the  Regulars, 
but  with  distinctive  facings.  The  same  process  is  now  going  on 
throuirhout  the  whole  British  Army,  and  evoking  a  perfect  wail  of 
indignation  and  grief  from  corps  which  had  won  renown  in  dresses 
and  fiicings  of  exceptional  color  and  cut. 

"  ^Ve"  [English],  observes  the  author  of  "  International  Vanities" 
(No.  III.,  Titles),  in  Blackwood's  M(((j(tzi>ie,  "  have  carried  this  adoring 
love  of  variety  of  names  and  titles  even  into  our  army,  where  we  have 
created  five  kinds  of  rank  altogether  irrespective  of  military  grades  j)ro- 
peril/ so  called;  our  army  rank  maybe  [1]  Regimental  (substantive), 
[2]  Brevet,  p}]  Local,  [4]  Temporary,  or  |51  Honorary,  and  we  might 
almost  add  [Oj  "  Relative"  to  this  absurd  list,  which  no  other  nation 
can  understand.  In  our  navy,  at  all  events,  rank  is  rank  ;  there  our 
otficers  are  in  reality  what  they  say  they  are." — LittelVs  Livi/ig  Age, 
No.  1506,  4th  April,  1874,  p.  14.) 


i: 

V. 


Thi     Pxitthl   of   (h'tlikuNiJ. 


CXI 


cord  witli  St(.'(liii;iii ;  l)iit  inii|Ut'stioiiJil)ly  Mi'icy  Warri'ii  — 
daughtiT  of  James  Otis — political  dissertationist,  iioetesH 
and  historian,  who  wrote  in  tlie  li<rlit  and  nieniories 
of  contemporaries,  presents  facts  not  to  Ite  found  elsewhere: 
Paul  Allen's  "American  Revolution"  is  the  most  philosophi- 
cal work  on  this  subject.  Here  lot  it  he  I'emarked,  that 
Mrs.  Warren  f  avs :  "Their  dan_i;er"-  that  is  the  peril 
of  the  jjarrison  of  Fort  Stanwix — "  was  greatly  eidianced  hy 
the  unsfortuiw  u\  (\Q.\w\"d\  irarkheimer,  who  had  marclu'd 
for  tlie  relief'  of  Fort  Stanwix,  but  with  too  little  precau- 
tion. At  the  head  of  eiu'ht  or  nine  hundred  militia,  he 
fell  into  an  and)uscade  eons!sth}(/  niofith/  of  ItidiiOiH^  and 
notwithstandin*^  a  iiumly  defence,  fir  of  tlicni  tWdpi'd. 
They  were  surrounded,  routed,  and  butchered,  in  all  the 
barbarous  shapes  of  savage  brutality,  after  many  of  them 
had  become  their  prisoners,  and  their  scal])s  carried  to 
their  Britisb  allies,  to  receive  the  stipulated  price." 

The  Americans  claimed  a  victory  Ijecause  the  survivors 
were  allowed  to  retire  unmolested.  This  was  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  Indians  had  long  since  "voted  themselves  out 
of  the  tight,"  and  because  the  white  troops,  misled  by  the 
false  reports  of  "a  cow^ardly  Indian,"  were  recalled  to  the 
defense  of  their  camp.  There  is  no  intention  in  this  little 
work  to  detract  from  the  glory  of  Ilarklieimer  or  of  liis 
Mohawk  men ;  but  the  best  regular  troops  have  fallen 
victims  to  ambuscades  from  the  time  of  (ya?sar,  and,  doubt- 
less, long  before,  judging  from  analogy,  down  to  the  pre- 
sent day.  "Eternal  titness  of  things"  is  the  pertinent  phi- 
losophical sneer  of  Sardou.     Ilarkheimer  against  his  better 


'I. : 


CXll 


Till    Ihittlr  (if  Oi'lnkani/. 


jiKl^iiK'iit  was  jduiiirud  iiit(»  a  (k-iully  trap  and  lu'  .siitlV'rrd 
uwt'ully,  us  is  tlio  iiiiiversal  result  iindorsiu'li  circuinstances. 

Personal  enemies,  witli  tlie  ]irt'suiiii»tit)n  of  i<;norance 
and  the  bitterness  of  sj)ite,  \\\\\v  iircsunicd  to  insinuate 
that  Sir  Jolm  was  wantinu'  in  conraiiv.  Want  of  piiysicul 
hravery  in  a  ti'ain(>d  otHcer  or  soldier  is  extremely  rare. 
^AFoi'al  cov.-ardice  has  very  few  and  (tod-like  exce])tions. 
As  one  anion^'  numerous  proofs  that  Sir  John  was  detieiejit 
in  neither  (piality,  physical  or  moral,  it  is  admitted  by 
friend  and  foe  that  ''Sir  John  Johnson  i>ropose(l  t<»  follow 
the  hlow  ^ivon  to  the  reinforcement  (who  were  chietly 
Mohawk  river  peo})le)  to  march  down  the  country  Mith 
about  '2(M>  men,  and  I  intendc<l  joining  him  with  a  suf- 
ticient  body  of  Indians;  hut  the  I'riij^adier  (St.  Let,aM')  said 
he  could  not  si)are  the  men,  and  <lisapi)roved  of  it."  It 
was  an  admitted  fact,  however  positively  it  may  bo  denied 
now,  at  this  day,  that  the  po})ulati()n  of  this  district  were 
stunned  by  the  catastrophe  at  Oriskany.  Is  it  any  Nvon- 
der  "i  There  was  the  "  ]\[ournin<i:;  of  Et,^ypt "  throughout  the 
Mohawk  valley.  Scarcely  a  house  but  wept  its  dead  or 
missini;.  It  was  not  until  the  tiaminu"  sword  of  Arnold  and 
the  Hashing  bayonets  of  his  i2000  regulars,  volunteers  and 
militia  sliowed  themselves  that  resolution  lifted  its  head 
and  hearts  once  more  pulsated  with  the  throbbing  of  hope. 

"False  as  a  bulletin,"  has  passed  into  a  proverb. 
Justice  would  seem  to  reqnire  that,  since  bulletins  or  re- 
ports are  with  few  excei)tions  "special  jJeas,"  the  state- 
ments of  both  parties  concerned  should  be  compared  in 
the  light  of  common-sense,  and  the  verdict  given  accord- 


The  llnttU    iif  Ui'lakdinj. 


CMU 


iui;  to  iiiiiiiit'ost  jn"<tl»altilitic's.  It  is  tlii'  iKipuljir  n(»tii>u 
that  Wilk'tt's  sortii'*  was  a  iiiairiiiticoiit  tWit  of  arms.  Why 
was  it  ^  If  he  found  no  (lillicnlty  in  spoilini;  the  l>ritish 
camp  at  his  leisure  \vith(»ut  oxpcrit-nciiii!:  any  h>ss  either 
in  his  sortie  or  return  to  the  fort — (Iin'imr  wliich  time  his 
M'aj^ons  (h'ove  out,  looted  and  carried  hack  into  the  fort 
twenty-one  htads  of  spoil ;  if,  auain,  tlie  garrison  derided 
the  besiegers,  why  did  ('oh»nel  Willett  and  Lieutemmt 
Stockwell  vohmteer,  U-ave  tlie  fort  to  seek  assistance  from 
Schuyler,  mt»re  than  a  hundred  miles  away,  aijainst  a  foe 
Avlio,  accordinir  to  American  accounts,  had  sliown  so  little 
viiror  duriuiT  tlie  sortie  ami  had  effected  so  little  suhse- 
(juently  i  Such  facts  are  hard  to  reconcile.  Within  the 
fort  were  750  (to  J'aO ?)  MJiite  men,  Americans,  who  must 
he  considered  as  i^ood,  man  for  man,  as  the  four  to  live 
hundred  Eni:lishmen  and  Americans  oi>posin^  them  ;  and 
no   one  will  pretend   that    an   armed  white   man    hehind 


*  Tliat  AVillott's  sortie  was  cntiri'ly  (Icstitutc  of  peril  nnd,  tliroiiu'li- 
oiit,  iininterrui>ted,  is  clearly  siiowii  I)y  the  tlioroiiirlnicss  with  which 
he  ransacked  the  Provincial  and  Indian  camps,  and  the  complete  lei- 
sure that  was  atl'orded  for  "lootiiiir"  them,  witli  only  a  remote  chance 
ot' reprisals  by  the  absent  enemy.  All  told,  St.  Leiicr  had  only  (y)  four 
liundred  and  ten  "Whites.  At  first  he  sent  out  eii^hty  of  these,  and. 
jicrhajis,  subsequently,  one  hundred  went  to  the  assistance  of  Sir 
John,  hurried  to  thescenc  of  action  by  the  report  of  a  cowardly  Indian. 
This  would  leave  St.  Lesrer  at  most  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven. 
Deduct  the  men  necessarily  on  detached  duty,  and  any  one  who  is 
willinjj  to  judiic  fairly  will  believe  the  British  commander,  that  he 
had  only  two  hundred  "Whiles  and  no  savaircs  with  him  when  Willett 
made  the  sortie  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  whites,  for  the  savages  had 
all  trone  to  Oriskany  with  Brant  and  Sir  .John  Johnson.  The  wounded 
men  captured  had  been  brought  back  from  the  field  of  fighting  during 
the  earlier  stages  of  the  battle. 


I  I 


H 


ex  IV 


Tlie  Batth  of  Orlsl-anij. 


works  is  not  worth  ten  times  as  many  savai»'es,  especially 
(lemoraii/ced  Indians.     Ag-aiii,  take  the  ])lan  of  the  siege, 
all  tlie  works  and  posts  luld  hy  St.  l^eiier's  whites  were  on 
the  west  of  the  Mohawk.     At  all  events  four  to  five  hundred 
men  could  not  effect  a  perfect  investment  of  the  fort.      For 
this  St.  Legerhad  to  depend  in  ap'eat  measure  upou  his  In- 
dians, and  nothing  shows  the  untrustworthiness  o''  Indians, 
either  as  fighters  or  scouts,  than  that  Willett  and  Siockwell 
could  creep  out  without  heiug  ohserved  and  get  off  without 
being  molested.     The  American  story  does  not  hang  well 
together.     Common-sense  must  endorse  St.  Leger's  report, 
ignoring  its  maguilocjuence,  which  is  of  no  consequence.    St. 
Leger  took  liltle  account  of  the  troops  to  whom  he  was  inune- 
diately  o}^})osed  ;  hut  he  was  afraid  of  his  denujralized  savage 
continirent.wliose  insubordination  had  ruined  his  ambuscade 
at  Oriskany — whose  anxiety  for  lighting,  but  not  their  thirst 
for  blood,  had  been  allayed  in  the  tight  with  Ilarkheimer ; 
and  thus  when  a  force  of  Mdiites,  at  least  cpiadrnple  his  own 
men  of  Saxon  blood,  were  advancing  under  the  best  Ameri- 
can execntive,  Arnold,   to   co-opei'ate  with  the  garrison, 
really  mnch  superior  to  the  besiegers  of  the  same  race,  St. 
Learer  found   himself  with    less  than  three  hundred  and 
fifty  valid  soldiers  opposed  to  at  least  two  thousand,  w  ith 
his  worst  and  most  dangerous  enemy  in  his  own  camp, 
the  barbarians  M'ho  had  i)roved  almost  worthless  as  fight- 
ing factors. 


e  m^iiilii.tt^rHile  mi  flie  4Jniri5{tai 


AXD 


SORTIE  FROM  FORT  8TANWIX. 


Old  Seventeen  Hundreil  and  Seventy-seven, 

Of  Liberty's  throes,  was  the  croun  and  the  leaven. 

Just  a  century  since,  August  Sixth,  was  the  day 

When  Great  Britain's  control  was  first  stricken  away. 

I.et  us  sing  then  the  field  where  the  Yeomen  of  York 

Met  the  Lion  and  Wolf  on  their  slaughterous  stalk  ; 

\\  hen  Oriskany's  ripples  were  crimson'd  with  blood  ; 

And  when  strife  fratricidal  polluted  its  Mood. 

Oh,  glorious  collision,  forever  renowned  ! 

While  America  lives  should  its  praises  resound, 

And  stout  Harkheimer's  name  be  the  theme  of  the  song, 

Who  Willi  Mohawk's  brave  sons  broke  the  strength  of  the  strong. 

I'o  relief  of  I'ort  Stanwix  the  N'orkers  drew  nigh. 
To  succor  stout  ("lansevoort,  conquer  or  die  ; 
And  if  unwise  the  counsels  that  brought  on  the  fight. 
In  the  battle  was  shown  that  their  hearts  were  all  right. 
If  their  Chief  seemed  so  prudent  that  "  subs"  looked  askance, 
J^till  one  shout  proved  their  feeling,  their  courage— "Advance."' 

Most  unfortunate  counsel  I     The  ambush  was  set, 
Leaving  one  passage  /«,  but  none  011/  of  the  net,— 
()f  outlets  not  one,  unless  'twas  made  by  the  sword 
Through  encompassing  ranks  of  the  pitiless  horde. 
Sure  never  was  column  so  terribly  caught. 
Nor  f^ver  has  column  inme  fearlessly  fought  :  — 
ThiM  Harkheimer's  Mohawkers  made  victory  theirs, 
For  St.  Leger  was  foiled  in  spite  of  his  snares. 

10 — cxv 


Pll 


[li 


1 


ex  VI 


The  Ainlmseade  on  the   Oriskany. . 


The  kiul  braggarts  who  \i  taunted  Harkheimer  so  free, 
Kre  the  figlit  had  Ijegun.  were  from  t"ij;ht  first  to  flee  ; 
While  the  stalwart  old  Chief,  who  a  father  had  proved, 
And  his  life  offerM  tip  for  the  cause  that  he  loved, 
'Mid  the  war-whirl  of  1  ieath  still  directed  each  move, 
'Mid  the  rain  from  the  clouds  and  from  more  fatal  groove 
Oi  the  deadlier  ritle,— and  object  assured. 
To  him  I'alm.  both  as  victor  and  martyr,  inured. 

Search  the  annals  of  War  and  examine  with  care 
If  a  parallel  fight  can  discovered  be.  there. 
When  nine  hundred  green  soldiers  beset  in  a  wood 
Their  assailants,  as  numerous,  boldly  withstood  ; 
And  while  Death  sleeted  in  from  environing  screens 
Of  the  forest  and  underbrush,  Indians  and  "  C.reens"— 

Gainst  the  circle  without,  took  to  cover  within. 
Formed  a  circle  as  deadly— which  as  it  grew  thin 
Into  still  sni.-iUer  circles  then  broke,  until  each 
Presented  a  round  that  no  foeman  could  breach, 
Neither  boldest  of  savage  nor  disciplined  troops:  — 
Thus  they  fought  and  they  fell  in  heroical  groups— 
But  though  falling  still  lighting  they  wrenchd  from  the  foe 

The  great  object  they  marched  to  attain,  and  altho' 
The  whole  vale  of  the  Mohawk  was  shrouded  in  woe. 
Fort  Stanwi.x  was  saved  by  Oriskany's  throe. 

No  New  I'.irth,  no  advance  in  the  Progress  of  .Man, 

Has  occurred  since  the  tale  of  his  suflerings  began. 

Without  anguish  unspeakable,  deluge  of  blood. 

The  Past's  buried  deep  'neath  th'  incarnadine  flood. 

So,  when,  at  Oriskany,  slaughter  had  done 

Its  fell  work  with  the  tomahawk,  hunting  knife,  gun  ; 

From  the  earth  soak'd  with  blood,  and  the  whirlwind  of  fire 

Rose  the  living's  reward  and  the  fallen's  desire. 

Independence  I 

For  there,  on  Oriskany's  shore. 
Was  wrought  out  the  death-wrestle  deciding  the  war ! 

If  our  country  is  free  and  its  flag,  first  displayed 

On  the  ramparts  of  Stanwix,  in  glory's  arrayed  ; 

If  the  old  "  Thirteen  Colonies"  won  the  renown 

"Sic  sfiuper  tyrannis  :~-\^itM.  Tyranny  down  ; 

There,  there,  .u  ^Iriskany,  tlie  wedge  first  was  driv'n, 

Hy  which  British  Invasion  was  splinter'd  and  riv'n  : 

Though  't  Hoosic  and  "  Sar'tog"  the  work  was  completed. 

The  end  was  made  clear  with  St.  Lcger  defeated  ; 

Nor  can  boast  be  disproved,  on  ( )riskany's  shore 

Was  worked  out  the  grim  problem  involv'd  in  the  war. 


.\  Poem,  by.tlen.  J.  Watts  de  Pkvster,  read  at  the  Centennial  Celebration  of  the 
Battle  of  Oriskany,  6tli  August,  1877.  (.)rigin3illy  published  in  the  "Centennial  Celebri- 
tions  of  the  State  of  New  York."     Albany,  1879. 


The  Ainhuscade  on  the   Orhl'un^i. 


CXVll 


Burgojne  commenced  his  march  on  tlie  80tli  of  Jnne, 
ascended   Chami)]ain  ;    bridged,    cordui-oyed    and  cleared 
tM'enty-one  miles  between  this  Lake  and  the  llndson,  and 
watered  his  horses  in  this  river  on  the  2Sth  of  July.     From 
Montreal,   St.   Leger  ascended  the  St.    Lawrence,  crossed 
Lake  Ontario  to  Fort  Oswego,  moved  up  the  Onondaga 
River  eastward,  traversed  Oneida  Lake,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded up,  and  "a  ehemW  Wood  Creek,  its  feeder.     Six- 
ty picked  marksmen,  under  Major  Stephen  Watts  (of  Xew 
York  city)  an  officer  of  Sir  Johnson's  Battalion  of  Refugees 
from  the  Mohawk,  kjiown  as  the  "  Koyal  Greens,"  pre- 
ceded his  march  and  etl'ectively  cleared  the  way.     About 
this  date,  St.  Leger's  advance  appeared  before  Fort  Stan- 
wix — the  site  of  the  present  Rome — on  the   "great  port- 
age "  between  the  headwaters  of  the  jMohawk  and    the 
feeders  of  the  streams  Mdiich  unite  M'ith  the  ocean  throu<'-li 
the  Gulf  of  St,  LaM-rence.     St.  Legei-  was  to  sweep  in  and 
gather  supplies  for  Burijoyne  as  well  as  to  o])erate  mili- 
tarily against  Gansevoort,  in  Fori  Stanwix. 

About  the  same  time  the  necessary  repairs  of  this  Fort 
were  completed,  its  magazines  tilled,  its  garrison  aug- 
mented under  Colonel  Gansevoort  and  Lieutenant-Colonels 
Marinus  Willett  and  Mellon,  and  simultaneously  the  invest- 
ment was  initiated  by  the  advance  guard  of  the  British, 
under  Lieutenant  liird,  Sth  (King's  Regiment  of)  Foot,  a 
famous  organization,  dating  back  to  10S5. 

On  the  3d  August,  1777,  St.  Leger  arrived  before  Fort 
Stanwix  and  the  siege  began. 

Amid  the  mistakes  and  blunders  of  this  campaign,  the 


cxviii  Thv  AhihuHcade  on  the  (^rishinfj. 

greatest  was  seiidiiiti'  ' 'Local  "  Brli^adier-Geueral  [Lt. 
Col.]  St.  Leger  witli  only  4<>0  to  410  M-liites  (Iiulians counted 
as  notliing  in  sucli  an  undertaking)  to  besiege  a  regular  work, 
held  by  "5(»  (or  W50  ?)  comparatively  good  troops.  Besides 
this,  St.  Leger  had  only  a  few  light  pieces,  ijarely  sufficient 
to  harass  and  inefficient  to  breach  or  destroy.  The  carriages 
of  his  two  six-i)ounders  were  rotten,  and  liad  to  be  rej)laced 
when  actually  in  battery.  Still  the  "  Burijovne  scare  '^  was 
upon  the  colony,  and  nothing  liad  been  done  as  yet  to  dissi- 
pate it,  to  restore  confidence,  or  to  demonstrate  how  base- 
less was  the  terror.  ["  The  Albanians  were  seized  with 
a  jianic,  the  peo])le  ran  about  as  if  distracted,  and  sent  off 
tlieir  goods  and  furniture."] 

Seeing  tlie  im})ortance  of  relieving  Fort  Stanwix,  Nicho- 
las llarkheimer,*  Major-General  New  York  State  Militia,  a 
brave  man  although  not  much  of  a  soldier,  summoned  the 
males  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  capable  of  l)earing  arms,  to 
meet  on  the  German  Flats  at  Fort  Dayton,  now  bearing 
his  name.  lie  cast  his  lot  in  with  the  revolted  colony,  al- 
though  his  own  brother  was-'  a  Local  Colonel  in  the  British 
service,  and  many  other  relations  and  connections  as  well 
as  friends  were  in  the  opposite  camp.  The  Militia  of  the 
Mohawk  rendezvoused  at  Fort  Davton  on  the  verv  day  (•^)d 
August)  that  St.  Leger  actually  began  the  siege  of  Fort 
Stanwix.      The  evening  of  the  5th,    Harklieimer  was   at 


li 


*  Ilorfkheinier  or  Ilcikimcr,  (>ri<;;inally  Erucmon  or  Ertrenmr, 
according  to  "Osgood's  Middle  States,"  p.  1(55,  wldcli  is  most  likely  to 
have  been  the  original  name.  Still,  loth  June,  1704,  lie  signed  Nicolas 
Ilerckmer  to  an  otlicial  paper. 


The  Ainhnscaih'  on  the   Orlsl'utii/. 


cxix 


"  Tlic  Mills"  at  the  mouth  ofDriskany  Creek,  some  seven  to 
nine  miles  from  Fort  Stanwix,  and  in  commiinif-ation  with 
tlie  garrison,  which  was  to  make  a  sortie  in  combination 
with  his  attack.  It  is  certain  tliat  Ilarkheimer  liad  Indians 
with  liimhelonufini;  to  the  '' Oneida  House,''  or  tribe  of  the 
"■  Six  ^Vations,''  but  how  many  is  nowhere  stated.  They 
were  of  little  account.  One  of  tlien),  however,  gave  tlie 
militia  the  l)est  kind  of  advice,  but  as  usual  was  not  lis- 
tened to.  This  tribe,  or  a  large  })ortion  of  it,  had  been  de- 
tached from  the  British  interest  by  agents  of  the  Albany 
Committee.  Their  decision  resulted  unfortunatelv  for 
them  ;  while  they  accom])lished  little  for  the  Americans, 
they  brought  ruin  u})on  themselves  by  their  defection  from 
the  ties  of  centuries.  After  the  impending  battle,  the 
other  Five  Nations  swoo}>ed  down  upon  them  and  nearly 
(lest roved  them. 

Ilarkheimer  moved  on  the  morninu'  of  the  »»th  Au^cust, 
and  immeduitely  fell  into  an  altercation  with  his  four  Colo- 
nels and  other  subordiiuites,  and  the  Trvon  C<»untv  Com- 
mittee-men.  He  wanted  to  disi)lay  some  soldierly  caution 
and  send  out  scouts  to  reconnoitre  and  throw  out  tlaid^ers 
to  protect,  and  tlius  feel^  as  it  were,  his  way  through  the 
woods.  For  tliis  his  othcers,  wit''  the  eflVontery  of  igno- 
rance and  the  audacitv  of  militiamen,  stvled  him  a  "  Torv. '' 
or  ''a  Traitor  "  and  a  "('oward,'"'  just  as  the  same  terms 
of  reproach,  with  as  little  justice,  M'ere  applied  to  SirJohn 
.lohnson.  Abuse  is  the  weapon  of  little  minds,  and  sneers 
of  those  deficient  in  the  very  qualities  which  they  tleny  to 
others  they  dislike.      "Who  can  defend  himself  against 


'f 


I         K,? 


cxx 


The  Amhimcade  on  the  OriHl'duy. 


ji  sneer  f  The  bickerinu'  lasted  for  liours,  until  Ilark- 
lieinier,  worn  out  with  the  persistency  of  the  babblers, 
gave  the  order  to  ''  INFareh  on.''  Ilis  Oneida  Indians  should 
have  been  most  useful  at  this  conjuncture.  But  these  traitors 
to  a  confederacA'  "-of  ages  of  glorN-,"  (b-eadiui;  to  meet  as 
foes  those  wlioni  thev  had  deserted  as  frieiuls,  cluni'  close  to 
tlie  main  bodv,  and  forijot  tlieir  usmil  cunnini;  and  wood- 
craft. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  St.  Leu'er  was  well  aware  that  Ilark- 
heimer  was  on  the  way  to  the  assistance'  of  Col.  Ganse- 
voort  in  Fort  Stanwix,  and  listened  to  the  councils  of  his 
second  in  conniiand,  Sir  John  Jolmson.  and  adopted  his 
})lan  to  set  a  traj)  for  the  a])proachinu' column.  According- 
ly St.  lA'ger  detached  Sir  Jolm  with  a  company  of  Jaegers, 
or  Ilesse-IIanau  Uitlemen,  Sir  John's  own  Light  Infantry 
Comj)any,  and  some  Provincials  or  Kangers  Avitli  Butler, 
the  total  only  eighty  whites,  if  St.  Leger's  Reports  are 
trustworthy,  and  Brant  (Thayendanega)  and  his  Indians. 
Sir  John  established  an  ambush  about  two  miles  west  of 
Oriskany.  Just  such  an  ambuscade  under  the  partisans, 
de  Beaugeu  and  Langlade,  absolutely  annihilated  Brad- 
dock  in  1755  ;  just  such,  again,  under  the  same  Langlade — 
had  he  been  listened  to  by  Regular  Superiors — would  have 
ruined  Pitt's  grand  conce])tions  for  the  con(piest  of  the 
Canadas  by  destroying  the  forces  under  AVolfe  on  the  Mont- 
morency, below  Quebec.  31st  July,  1759. 

Ilarkheimer  had  to  cross  a  deep,  crooked,  S-shaped 
ravine,  with  a  marshy  bottom  and  dribble,  spanned  by  a 
causeway  and  bridge    of  logs.     Sir   John  completely  en- 


The  Ainhuseiule  on  the   Orlsl'CDii/. 


ex  XI 


veloped  tliis  spot  with    marksmen,  leavin<;   an   inlet  for 
tlic  entrance  of  tlie  Americans,  ])ut  no  outlki   for  tlieir 
esc'ai)e.     Moreover  he  phiced    liis    best    trooj.s — Avliites— 
on  the  road  westward  wliere  real  fiirhtin«r,  if  any  occurred, 
liad  to  be  done,  and  to  l)ar  all  access  to  the  fort. 

No  plans  were  ever  more  judicious,  either  for  a  hattue 
of<rameoran  ambuscade  for  troops.  Ilarkheimer's  col- 
mini,  without  scouts,  eclaireurs  or  flankers,  ])luni;e<l  intv» 
the  ravine  and  had  ])artly  climbed  the  opposite  crest  and 
attained  the  plateau,  when,  with  his  wag'on  train  huddled 
together  in  the  bottom,  the  surrounding  forest  and  dense 
undej'wood  was  alive  with  enemies  and  aliu'ht  with  the 
blaze  of  muskets  and  riHes,  succeeded  by  yells  and  war 
M'hoops,  just  as  the  shatterinij:  lightninu-  and  the  terrifying 
thunder  are  almost  simultaneous. 

Fortunately  for  the  Americans,  the  Indians  anticipated 
the  signal  to  close  in  upon  them.     The  savages— violatin<r 
their  promises  to  restrain  their  passions,  and  disregardiuir 
the  very  plan  they  had  agreed  to,  and  which  would  have 
tilled  full  their  thirst  for  slaughter— shoAved  themselves  a 
few  moments  too  soon,  so  that  TTarkheimer's  rear-guard  ' 
was  shut  out  of  the  trap  instead  of  h,,  and  thus  had  a  chance 
to  fly.     They  ran,  but  in  many  cases  thev  were  outrun  by 
the  Indians,  and  suffered  almost  as  severely  as  their  com- 
rades whom  they  had  abandoned.     Then  a  butchery  en- 
sued such  as  had  never  occurred  on  this  continent,  and  if 
the  entrapped  Americans  engaged  had  not  shown  the  cour- 
age of  desperation  they  would  all  have  been  sacrificed.      But 
Heaven  interposed  at  the  crisis,  and  sent  down  a  delui:in«>- 


m 


cxxu 


Tlic  Aiithnsctitlc  on   the,   Orislani/. 


in 

liV 


shower  wliidi  stopped  the  shiuiji:liter,  since,  iji  tliat  (hiy  of 
Hint-locks,  tiriii_i«:  amid  torrents  of  rain  was  an  impossihil- 
ity.  Such  "  a  shower  of  hlessiiii;''  saved  the  En_i;;lish  at 
jNfontniorenci  In  IToll,  AVashini;;ton  after  Brandywine  (Cior- 
don  ii.,  ilTa)  in  177^,  and  perhajjs  preser\ed  the  eitv  ot' 
Waslnni^^ton  })\  terminating*  the  tiulit  ar  Cliantillv  in  1S(;-J. 
A  simihir  downpour  on  the  1  7tli  June,  ISIT),  certainly  had 
a  considerahle  intluence  on  the  AVaterloo  cam})aii:'n.  Ex- 
amjdes  may  he  sidded  </<{  /Hijisrain.  This  ufave  the  Ameri- 
cans time  to  reco^'er  their  hreath  and  senses,  llarkheimer, 
very  early  in  the  a*  tion,  was  desperately  wounded  in  the  le<r 
hv  a  shot  which  killed  his  horse,  lie  caused  his  saddle  to 
he  placed  at  the  foot  of  a  beech  tree,  and,  sittinir  upon  it 
and  j>rop])ed  ai^ainst  the  trunk,  he  lit  his  pipe,  and,  while 
quietly  smoking-,  continued  to  ^'ive  orders  and  make  dispo- 
sitions M'hicli  saved  all  who  did  escape.  Ilis  orders  on  this 
occasion  were  perhaps  the  germ  of  the  best  subseipient 
rifle  tactics.  He  behaved  like  a  hero,  and  perished  anuir- 
tvr  to  his  ideas  of  Libert  v,  dvint»:  in  his  own  home  at  "Dan- 
ube,"  two  miles  below  Little  Falls  ("Little  Portage"), 
ten  days  after  the  engagement,  in  conse(juence  of  a  bun- 
gling amputation  and  subsequent  ignorant  treatment.  The 
monument  he  so  richly  deserved,  which  was  voted  both  by 
Congress  and  his  State,  to  the  eternal  disirraceof  both,  has 
never  been  erected,  and  this  grand  representative  yeonum 
NeM'  Yorker  has  no  public  memorial  of  his  (puilities  and 
services. 

When  the  shower  was  .about  over,  Sir  John  Jolinson, 
seeing  that  the  Lidians  were  yielding,  sent  (f)  back  to  camp 


The  Ainhiinfuide  on  the,   Oriskdny.  cxxiii 

for  a  roiiiforct'iiu'iit  ot'liis  '*  [loyal  GrccMis,"  imdcrliis  bro- 
tlior-in-law,  Mjij.  St('i)luMi  Wutts,  or  else  tlioy  wore  sent 
them  to  011(1  tlio  iiuittor  more  sspeodilj.  Those,  Jilthoui^h 
they  disijfiiisod  thonisoivos  like  Mohawk  Valley  Militia, 
were  recognized  by  the  Americans  as  brothers,  relatives, 
connections  or  neighbors  whom  IIarkheiiner''s  followers 
had  assisted  in  driving  into  exile  and  poverty.  These  Loy- 
alists were  presumably  coming  back  to  regain  what  they  had 
lost  and  to  punish  if  victorious.  At  once  to  tlio  fury  of 
battle  was  added  the  bitterness  of  mutual  hate,  s])ite  and 
vengeance.  If  the  previous  fighting  had  been  mnrdorous, 
the  8ul)so(|uont  was  horrible.  Firearms,  as  a  rule,  were 
thrown  aside,  the  two  forces  mingled,  they  grasped  each 
other  by  the  clothes,  beards  and  hair,  slashed  and  stabbed 
w  itli  tlieir  hunting  knives,  thrust  with  "  spears"*  and  bayo- 


*  There  is  a  lireat.  deal  of  talk  aboiit  tiLrlitin;^  with  "  spears  "  in  thia 
battle.  "Captain  CJardonicr  slew  three  willi  iiis  sjiear,  one  afirr  the 
other."  Colonel  Willett  and  Lieutenant  Stockwell.  "  eieh  armed  with 
a  spear,"  crept  out  of  the  fort  to  seek  relief,  ctr.  That  the  Indians 
used  spears  is  very  likely,  because  a  weapon  of  this  sort  is  primitive 
and  in  ordinary  use  among  savages.  Storming  ])arties,  or  iroojjs  des- 
tined to  assault  a  breach,  it  is  true,  were  furnished  with  something 
resiimbling  "boarding  pikes,"  peculiar  to  the  Navy.  That  the  English 
and  American  troops  or  Militia  employed  such  a  weapon  is  ridicnlou;?. 
These  "  spears"  were  Espoiitons,  which  were  the  !)adges  of  military 
rank.  "To  trail  a  half  pike"  was  a  term  once  recognised  as  equiva- 
lent to  holding  a  commission.  As  late  as  1811  "the  Militia  Law 
of  the  United  States  required  that  the  conunissioned  ollicers  shall 
severally  be  armed  with  a  sword  or  hanger  and  esponton."  The 
latter  was  a  short  pike,  about  eight  feet  in  length.  Colonels  carried 
them,  just  as  in  the  previous  century  sergeants  bore  halberts.  "To 
bring  a  man  to  the  halberts"  exiiressed  the  idea  of  the  infliction 
of  corporal  i)unishment.  This  explains  how  Colonel  Willett  and 
Captain  Gardenier  and  Lieutenant  Stockwell  canie  to  be  furnished, 

17 


I 


CXXIV 


The  Ainhnscade  07i  the   Oriskany. 


nets,  and  were  found  in  pairs  locked   in  tlie  embrace  of 
hatred  and  deatl>. 

There  Ih  now  no  lonsjrer  tlie  sliirhtest  doubt  that  Sir  John 
Johnson  eoinnianded  the  l»ritisli  Loyalists  and  Indians  at 
Oriskany.  Only  one  oriii:inal  writer  ever  questioned  the 
fact,  whereas  all  other  historians  agree  in  establishini^  it. 
The  reports  of  St.  Leijrer  not  oidy  prove  the  presence  of  Sir 
John  Johnson  in  eoniniand,  but  they  j)raise  his  able  dispo- 
sitions for  the  ambuscade  or  l)attle.  Family  tradition — a 
sure  index  to  the  truth  if  not  the  very  truth  itself — and  con- 
temporary publications  remove  every  doubt.  Sir  John's 
brother-in-law,  Major  Stephen  "Watts,  of  New  York  city, 
dangerously  wounded,  appears  to  have  been  second  in  com- 
mand, certainly  of  the  white  troops,  and  most  gallantly 
prominent  in  the  bloodiest,  closest  fighting.  He,  like  ITark- 
heimer,  besides  receiving  other  terrible  wounds,  lost  his 
leg*  in  this  action  ;  but.  unlike  the  latter,  under  equally  dis- 
advantageous circumstances,  preserved  his  life. 

NOT  with  spears,  but  with  lialf-pikt's  or  cspontons.  The  last  were  sym- 
bols of  authority  and  conimand,  and  in  an  old  print  St.  Leger  is  repre- 
sented with  an  esjiontrn  in  his  hand.  Over  a  hundred  years  ago  there 
was  a  great  question  whether  light  double-barrel  niusketf^^— s(>metliing 
like  those  furnished  to  the  Freneh  military  police  in  Corsica — should 
notconstitute  a  part  of  the  armament  of  officers  in  the  French  service. 
The  folly  of  espontons  survived  down  to  the  beginning  of  this  century 
in  some  services,  and  the  canes  of  Spanish  officers  to-day  may  be  repre- 
sentatives of  the  obsolete  espontons. 

*  "  Major  (Stephen)  Watts  was  wounded  through  the  leg  by  a  ball 
(he  eventually  lost  his  limb),  and  in  tlie  neck  by  a  thrust  from  a  bayonet, 
which  passed  through,  back  of  the  windpipe,  and  occasioned  such  an 
effusion  of  blood  as  to  induce  not  only  liim  but  his  captors  to  suppose 
(after  leading  him  two  or  three  miles)  that  lie  must  die  in  consequence. 
He  begged  his  captors  to  kill  him  :  they  refused,  and  left  him  by  the 


2'he  Ainhuscade  on  the  Oriskany. 


cxxv 


Without  jittempting  io  dcvulop  the  compluteiiess  of  this 
t'riitricidiil  butchery,  it  may  be  stated  us  one  curious  tact 
tiuit  Ilarkheiuier's  brother  was  not  t)nly,  according;  to 
some  narratives,  atituhir  Hritisli  coh)nel,  but  certainly  a  sort 
of  quarternuister  to  St.  Leger,  and  esi)ecially  char^^ed  with 
the  supervision  of  tlie  Indian  auxiliaries  wiio  were  t  .e 
cause  of  the  General's  death  and  the  slaui^hter  of  so  many 
of  their  connnon  kinsmen,  connections,  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. 

All  the  Revolutionary  battles  on  i\ew  York  soil  were, 
more  or  less,  family  collisions,  and  realized  the  boast  which 
Sliakespeare,  in  the  closing  lines  of  his  Tragedy  of  King 
.Tohn,  puts  in  the  mouth  of  the  valiant  bastard.  Falcon- 
bridge  : 


side  of  a  streimi  under  the  81i..ae  of  ii  bridge  (across  Oriskaiiy  Creek), 
where  he  was  found  two  days  subseciueiitly  covered  witli  tly-blows,  but 
still  alive,  lie  was  borne  l)y  sonie  Indians  to  Sciienectady  (Oswego, 
and  then  by  boat  to  Montreal),  wherche  remained  until  sulliciently  re- 
covered to  endure  a  voyage  to  England,  where  he  was  often  after  seen 
limping  about  Chelsea  Hospital.  [Error.  He  married  a  Miss  Nugent, 
and  reared  a  family  of  distinguished  sons  in  elegant  ease.)  The  sash 
taken  from  him  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Sanders  family." — "  Legacy 
of  Historical  Gleanings,"  Vol.  I.,  pages  G$)-70. 

"The  soldier  who  carried  the  Major  to  the  stream — and  received 
the  (.Major's)  watch  as  a  reward— was  named  Failing,  a  private  in  Gen- 
eral Herkimer's  (own,  or  original)  regiment.  He  sold  the  watch  for 
$300,  Continental  money,  to  his  Lieutenant,  Martyn  G.  Van  Alstyne, 
who  would  never  i)art  with  it,  &c.  M.  G.  Van  Alstyne  was  First  Lieu- 
tenant, in  the  Seventh  Company,  General  Herkimer's  (own,  or  original) 
regiment,  and  was  a  great-uncle  of  my  (F.  H.  Hoof,  of  Khinebeck,  TS^.  Y.) 
father.  He  lived  until  IHiJO.  My  father,  now  aged  75,  remembers 
the  watch  well,  and  has  often  mentioned  the  incident  to  me,  as  related 
to  him  by  his  uncle." 


cx.wi  TJtc  AinlniHoatle  on  the  (h'Ls/xdnif. 


"  This  Knjjliind  [New  York)  never  diil  (nor  never  shall) 
Lie  lit  the  proiid  loot  of  a  coiuiiicror 
Jliit  wlien  it  first  did  help  to  woiind  itself. 

*  *  *  *  * 

Come  the  tliroe  corners  of  tlic  world  in  arms 

And  we  shill  shock  them.     NoiiLrht  shiiil  make  »s  rue 

If  Kiiji;hmd  [New  York]  to  itself  (h)  rest  but  true  !" 

Tills  savu^c  iifVair  crazed  even  tlic  Iiidiaiis.  It  out- 
Ktri|)[)<.'(l  their  own  ferocity.  Tliey  lost  their  heads — went 
mad  like  wild  animals  -'t  the  si^-ht  ;ind  smell  of  blood. 
Thev  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  white  men  had  lured 
them  into  this  vorv  hell  of  tire  and  shino-hter  t<»  extemii- 
nate  them.  The  arena  of  battle  became  a  maelstrom  of 
bloodshed,  and  the  Indians  tomahawked  and  stabbed  friend 
and  foe  alike,  and  in  the  wild  whirl  iuid  cataclysm  of  pas- 
sions, more  powerfid  than  their  own,  sutfered  a  loss  which 
appalled  even  the  fell  instincts  of  the  savai^e. 

As  an  American,  and  especially  as  a  Ivnickerbacker,  the 
historian  cannot  but  rejoice  in  the  determination  exhibited 
by  the  people  of  his  State  and  kindred  blood,  and  of  this  op- 
portunity of  demonstratino;  it.  Still,  as  a  chronicler  of  events, 
there  is  no  evadini;  the  concurrent  testimony  of  facts;  of 
"Kapp*s  History  of  his  People"  (?'.  e.^  the  Dutch  and  Ger- 
man settlers  of  the  Mohawk  Valley),  and  of  St.  Leger's  Re- 
ports. All  of  these  concur  in  ^'  deuce,  direct  and  cir- 
cumstantial, that  Ilarkheir  Je  army  suffered  a  tae- 
^xm^  disaster.  That  this  ot  remain  a  defeat  and  was 
converted  (as  was  Monmouth)  eventually  into  a  moral 
triumph  and  ;.olitical  as  well  as  a  Strategical  success,  was 
due  to  the  com.non-sense  commandership  of  Ilarkheimer. 


1," 


Tl <'  AinhuHoiufi   on  the   Oi'isli'dny.  cxxvli 

Acconliiii;  to  liis  |tlaii,  tlic  iulvunco  and  attack  of  liis  col- 
uiuii  (»t"  Mohawk  \'alk'V  men  was  to  Ixi  a  ('oMihiiic'd  move- 
mt'iit,  based  upon,  or  iuNvdvin^-,  a  siiiudtuiieous  sortie  from 
Fort  Stanwix.  I'hls  sorto-  was  not  made  in  time  to  save 
Ilarklieimer's  life  or  tin-  loss  of  over  two-thirds  of  liis 
command,  killed  and  wounded  or  prisotiers.  Xothini^  pie- 
served  the  siii'vivors  of  Ilarklieimer's  column  hut  the  del- 
ugin<j^  "shower  of  hlossini^."  When  the  tlood  hei^an  to 
abate,  an<l  not  until  then,  did  Willett  take  advanta<jre  of  the 
storm  to  make  his  sortie  and  attack  that  [)ortion  of  St. 
Leber's  lines  which  had  been  stripped  to  co-ojjerate  in  tli3 
andnish  set  for  Ilarkheimi-r.  'Y\\v  sieije  works,  oi-  lines  of 
investment — to  apply  a  formal  term  to  very  tritiini;-  imita- 
tions—  were  very  ineonij)lete.  To  style  them  "lines  of  in- 
vestment "  is  a  misnomer.  St.  I^eger's  three  batteries — 
the  first,  tiiree  liglit  ijuns ;  the  second,  four  diminutive 
mortars  ;  the  third,  three  more  small  i:;uns — were  totally 
inadi'quate  for  sie<:;e  purposes,  whereas  th we  irtrc fourteen 
pieces  of  artillery  mounted  in  the  fort.  St.  Lei^er  did 
liave  two  six-pounders,  but  the  carriages  were  found  to  be 
so  rotten  that  they  had  to  be  reconstructed  on  tlie  sjjot, 
and  consetpiently  could  not  liave  been  of  service  when 
most  needed,  lie  refers  to  tliis  fact  by  implication  in  his 
report.  The  redoubts  to  cover  tlie  J3ritish  batteries,  St. 
Leger's  line  of  aj)proaclies  and  his  encamj^ment  were 
all  on  the  north  side  of  the  fort.  These  were  occiipied  by 
250  to  350  regulars  and  Provincials.  Sir  John  Johnson's 
camp  or  works,  held  by  about  133  Loyalist  troops,  were  to 
the  southward.     It  was  against  these  last,  entirely  den  uded 


cxxviii  The  AmhuHoade  on  the   Orlska)iy. 


of  their  defenders,  that  Willott  made  his  sortie.  Pt. 
Leger's  works  and  those  of  Sir  John  Johnson  were  widely 
separated  and  independent  of  each  otlier,  and  the  intervals, 
to  make  the  circjit  of  the  investment  apparently  complete, 
wore  held,  or  rather  ])atr()lled,  hy  the  Indians,  who,  how- 
ever, during  the  sortie,  were  all  away  amhiiscading  and 
assaulting  Ilarkheimer.  Consecpiently,  Willett's  sortie, 
liowever  successful  in  its  results  as  t(  iiaterial  captured, 
and  as  a  diversion,  M'as  utterly  devoid  of  [)eril.  That  he 
had  time  to  plundei  Sir  John  Johnson's  camj),  aiul  three 
times  send  out  seven  wagons,  load  them,  and  send  them 
back  into  the  i)Ost,  witln.ut  the  loss  of  a  man,  is  ummswer- 
able  proof  that  he  met  with  no  opposition.  Tie  surprised 
and  captured  a  small  squad  of  prisoners  (0 — five,  an  offi- 
cer (connnissioned  or  non-commissioned)  and  four  })rivates 
— aiuI  saw  a  few  dead  Indians  and  whites,  hut  nowhere 
does  it  appear  whether  they  had  been  killed  by  the  fire 
from  the  fort  or  in  the  attack.  All  the  merit  that  belonifs 
to  his  sortie,  in  a  military  j)oint  of  view,  is  the  fact  tliat  to 
save  whatever  material  Willett  did  not  have  time  to  re- 
move, Sir  Jolm  Johnson  had  to  extricate  and  hurry  back 
his  ''  Royal  Greens  "  from  the  battle-ground  of  Oriskany, 
four  to  five  and  a  half  miles  away  ;  leaving  the  stage  of 
collision  with  the  expectation  that  the  conipletion  of  the 
bloody  work  would  be  effectually  performed  by  the  In- 
dians. These,  however,  had  already  got  their  fill  of  figlit- 
ing,  and  to  this  alone  was  due  the  result,  so  fortunate  for 
the  survivors  of  ITarkheimer's  column,  that  its  remnant 
was  left  in  possession  of  the  field,  soaked  with  their  blood 


The  Ainhui^aade  on  the   OrUkany. 


cxxix 


and  covered  with  their  duiid  and  wounded.  The  j?lory  of 
Oriskanj  helon<j:;8to  the  men  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  only 
ill  that,  althou.ii,'h  they  wore  "  completely  entrapped,"  they 
defended  themselves  with  such  des})eration  for  iive  or  six 
hours,  and  finally  displayed  so  nnich  re8tore<l  courage,  that 
they  were  ahle  to  extricate  even  a  few  fragments  from  the 
slaughter  pit.  That  W'illett  cai)tured  "five  ]^>ritish  stand- 
ards," or  five  British  stand  of  coloi's,  is  not  prohahle ; 
scarcely  possible.  They  may  have  been  camp  colors  or 
markers.  The  regimental  colors  are  not  entrusted  to  drib- 
let detachments  from  regiments.  The  "  Roval  Greens  " 
may  have  hud  a  color,  a  single  flag,  although  this  is  very 
doubtful,  because,  if  only  133  co!»stituted  their  whole 
strength,  thev  formed  a  verv  weak — a  mere  skeleton— 
battalion.  The  colors  of  the  Eighth  or  King''s  Tlegiment 
of  Foot  were  certainly  left  at  headquarters,  likewise  those 
of  the  Briiish  Thirty-fourth.*  The  same  remark  ap]:)lies 
to  the   Ilesse-IIanan  Chasseurs — a  com])any  of  .lagers  or 


f'^ 


*  In  corroboration  of  this  vii;\v  of  the  subjcol,  take  tin;  conciiulini; 
parai^raj)!!  of  \Vas!iini!;toirs  letter  of  July  20,  1779,  to  the  President  of 
Conj?ress,  reporting  the  capture  of  Stoney  Point,  on  the  night  of  the 
i5-l(ith  July,  1770.  In  this  paragraph  he  states  tliat  "  two  standards" 
were  taken,  "  one  belonging  to  the  garrison  jtiiis  was  not  a  standard 
proper,  but  what  is  technically  called  a  garrison  flag]  and  one  [a  stand- 
ard pro|)er]  to  the  Seventeenth  Kegiment."  Stoney  Point  w'as  held  by 
11  British  force  only  a  few  less  than  the  white  besieging  force  before 
Fort  Stanwi.x.  The  garrison  was  composed  of  detaclunenis  from  four 
difFercnt  regular  organizations,  and  yet  these  had  only  one  standard, 
proper,  which  belonged  to  ihe  Seventeenth.  Of  this  regiment  there 
were  six  companies,  the  majority  of  it  in  the  works,  where  also  the 
Lieut. -Colonel  commanding  had  his  |)ermanent  quarters. 


:•      t 


I 


cxxx 


The  Amhuscade  on  the   Orlslumy. 


Riflemen  would  certainly  not  have  with  it  the  ref^iniental 
standard. 

As  still  further  proof  of  this  view-  taken,  the  cam])  of 
the  British  Tlei;ulars,  ])roj)er,  was  not  attacked.  The  fact  is, 
the  American  story  of  Wlllett's  sortie  has  an  atmosphere 
of  myth  about  it.  St.  Leger's  report  to  J^urgoyne,  and 
likewise  to  his  imniediate  suj)erior,  Carleton — the  latter 
the  most  circumstantial — present  the  most  convincing  evi- 
dence of  truth^"  '  less.     St.  Le<j;er  writes  to  Carleton: 


^^  At  the  time  [when  Ilarklieinier  drew  near]  I  had  not  :.*.")0 
of  the  A'uif/\-i  troo2)s  hi  cmnp^  the  various  and  extensive  opi-ra- 
lions  I  was  uiuk-r  an  absolute  necessitv  of  eiiteriuijiuto  haviuij 
employed  tlie  rest ;  and  tlierefi)re  [I]  could  not  send  [original- 
ly] above  HO  ichite  men^  rantjers  and  troops  iiwluded,  with  the 
whole  corps  of  Indians,  Sir  John  Johnson  put  himself  at  the 
liead  of  this  party.  *  *  *  *  *  * 

"In  relation  to  the  vietory  [over  Ilarklieinu'r],  it  was  ecpially 

complete  as  if  the  whole  [of  the  Anu-rieans]   had   fallen;  nay, 

more  so,  as  the  200  [out  of  S()()  or  {)(){)  or   1,000]   who  escaped 

served  only  to  spi-ead  the  panic  widei-;  hut  it.  was  not  so  with 

the  Indians,  their  loss   was  great.     I  nuist  he  iniderstood  In- 

dian  eo)?ij)>'tatio7i,  being  only  about  .'50  killed  and  wounded, 

and  in  that  mnnber  some  of  their  favorite  chiefs  and  coutideu- 

tial  warrioi's  were  slain.     *      *      *      As  I  snspectcfl,  the  eiuMuy 

[Willett]   made  a  sallv  with   *2.")0  men   towards  Lieut.  Bird's 

post  to  facilitate  the  entrance  of  the  relieving  corps  or  bring  on 

a  general  engagement  with  every  advantage  they  could  wish. 
**#**♦ 

"  Immediately  upon  the  depart  me  of  Captain  IIovks  I  learned 

th.-it  Lieut.  Bird,  misled  by  the  iuibrniatiou  of  n  eovHirdly  In- 

diaiitiiat  Siu  John  was  prest,  h<td  quitted  his  post  to  m.aich  to 

his  assistance.     I  commanded    the  detaehiuent   of  the   King's 

regiment  in  support  of  Captain  IIoyks  by  a  road  in  sight  of  the 


The  Amhuscade  on  the  Orisl:u)ij/.  cxxxi 

garrison,  ?/'/<iV'A,  xnith  exei'utlve  fire  from  his  party ^  h)tmediutehj 
drove  the  enetuy  into  the  fort  without  any  further  advautai/e 
than  frightening  so)ne  S(ju(ncs  and  pilfering  the  jMcks  of  the 
zoarriors  which  they  left  behind  them. '" 

Col.  Claus  corroborates  and  explains  this  : 

"  Din-ins^  the  action  [with  llarkhcinier],  wlion  the  garrison 
found  the  Indians'  camp  (who  wont  out  against  their  reinforce- 
ments) empty,  tliey  boldly  sally'd  out  with  three  hundred  men 
and  two  iield-pieces,  and  took  away  the  Indians'  packs,  with 
tlieir  cloaths,  Avampum  and  silver  work,  '  they  having  gone  in 
tlieir  sliirts,  or  naked,  to  action  ;'  [Western  Indians  strip  to  tlie 
butt'  for  fighting  to  tliis  day]  and  when  they  found  a  party 
advancing  from  our  camp,  tliey  returned  Avith  tlieir  spoil,  tak- 
ing with  them  Lieut,  Singleton  [wounded  about  the  same  time 
with  Major  or  Captain  Watts  at  Oriskany],  and  a  private  of 
Sir  John's  Regiment,  wlio  lay  wounded  in  the  Indian  camp. 
The  disai>pointment  was  rather  greater  to  the  Indians  than  their 
loss,  for  they  had  nothing  to  cover  themselves  at  night,  or 
against  the  weather,  and  nothing  in  our  camp  to  supply  them 
till  I  got  to  Oswego." 

^Nothing  beneficial  could  have  resulted  from  collusion  in 
the  reports  of  the  British  and  Loyal  officers.  The  fact  that 
Willett  sent  his  seven  wagons  out  and  in,  three  times,  shows 
there  could  have  been  no  enemy  encountered,  for  rifiemen 
in  the  woods  could  at  least  have  shot  down  his  horses  if 
they  had  not  the  courage  to  exchange  fires  with  his  men. 

It  was  Harkheimer  Avho  knocked  all  the  fight  out  of  the 
Indians,  and  it  was  the  desertion  of  the  Indians,  atid  this 
alone,  that  rendered  St.  Legcr's  expedition  abortive. 

In  summing  up  it  should  be  borne  in  mind   that  St. 

Leger  had  only  375  to  410  regulars  and  Provincials,  inad- 
IS 


CXXXll 


Thij  Arnhuscadc  on  thv   (frisl'anti. 


clition  to  liis  ten  liglit  guns  and  diniinutive  mortars,  to  be- 
siege a  fort,  well  supplied,  niounting  fourteen  guns,  garri- 
soned with  750  at  least,  and  according  to  the  indelinite 
language  of  other  authorities,  050  troops  of  the  NeM' York 
Line,  /.  '..,  to  a  certain  degree,  Tlegidars. 

Nevertheless,  St.  Leger  continued  to  press  the  siege, 
with  at  most  410  whites  against  750  to  950  M'hites,  from 
the  0th  until  the  22d  August,  and  when  he  broke  up  and 
retreated  at  the  news  of  Arnold's  approach  with  a  force 
magnitied  by  rumor,  it  was  almost  altogether  on  account 
of  the  hifamous  conduct  of  the  Indians.  All  the  evidence 
when  sifted  justifies  his  remarks  that  the  Indians  "  became 
more  formidable  than  the  enemy  M'e  had  to  expect."'  By 
enemy  he  meant  Arnold's  column,  hastening  his  march 
against  him  and  the  garrison  in  his  innnediate  front,  and 
yet  neither  St.  Leger  nor  Burgovne  underestimated  the 
American  troops — not  even  the  Militi.i,  especially  when 
the  latter  were  fighting  under  cover  or  behind  works. 

The  irist  of  all  this  lies  in  one  fact — it  was  not  the  de- 
fense  of  F<.rt  Stanwix,  but  the  self-devotion  and  desi)erat ion 
of  Harkheimer's  militia  that  saved  tlie  Mohawk  Valley, 
and  constitutes  Oriskany  the  Thermopylae  of  the  American 
Revolution  ;  tlie  crisis  and  turning-point  against  the  Bri- 
tish,^ of  the  Burgoyne  campaign;  and  the  ''''Decisive  Con- 
JJicf  of  America's  Seve7\  Years'*  War  for  frnhpendcnce. 


*  As  every  thine  in  regard  to  these  eceurrences  is  interesting,  the 
following:  translation  of  von  Kelking's  "  Devtrfien  Iliilfstrvppen  "  (I.,  3- 
23)  is  presented  in  regard  to  the  Hesse-Hanau  Jager  or  Ritle  Comjiany 
attached  to  St.  Leger's  connnand  : 


The  Ainhnticade  on  the  (Jriskoivj.  cxxxiii 


"  Fiu;illy  it  is  i)roper  to  commemorate  in  detail  an  event  in  con- 
nection witii  this  campaign  wliicli  we  liave  alluded  to  or  treated  al- 
ready more  at  length  :  the  Hanking  expedition  undertaken,  as  u  side- 
issue,  against  Port  Stanwix.  The  Jager  or  Hide  Comp my  which  was 
assigned  to  him  was  the  first  that  the  Count  of  Ilessellanau  sent  over 
to  America.  It  left  llanau  7th  May,  1777,  and  reached  Canada  11th  of 
June.  It  was  at  once  sent  forward  by  the  Governor  (C'arleton)  to  jcni 
the  troops  which  had  already  started  U|)  the  St.  Lawrence  and  assigned 
to  the  column  of  St.  Leger.  It  was  conmianded  hy  Lieut.  Ilildehrand. 
The  march  through  these  distant  and  sparsely  settled  districts  v  ng 
and  very  laborious,  accompanied  with  all  kinds  of  dangers  a"  X&- 

cles.  In  order  to  avoid  the  almost  imjjenetrable  wilderness,  a  greater 
circuit  was  made  across  Lake  Ontario.  The  cori)s  of  St.  Leger.  coin- 
prisinr/  detarhmentu  from  no  maiu/  different  oryduiziitinnn,  started  in 
the  beginninir  of  July  from  tlie  neighborhood  of  Montreal  as  soon  as  the 
expected  Indian  force  had  been  assembled  there.  ^\\?.  transportation 
in  Hat  boats  150  miles  up  the  river  was  very  slow  ;  tiie  more  so  because, 
every  now  and  then,  the  boats  had  to  be  *  vken  ashore  anil  carried  by 
hand  around  the  rapids  or  cataracts.  Iluving  overcome  the  ditHculties 
of  the  river,  the  route  lay  across  the  broad  Ontario  Lake  to  Fort  Oswe- 
go on  the  south  shore.  There  a  day  was  dt^voted  to  re>t,  in  order  that 
the  troops  might  recover  to  some  extent  from  the  exhaustion  produced 
by  their  previous  exertions.  Thence  the  route  followed  a  stream  (Os- 
wego Itiver]  and  a  small  lake  [Oneida]  inlan<l  in  a  soutlierly  direction  ; 
[liience  a  rhecal,  and  up.  Wood  Creek]  the  troops  marched  to  tiie  Mo- 
hawk, on  which  stood  Fort  Stanwix,  held  Ity  the  enemy  [Americans]. 
The  march  was  extremely  laborious,  since  not  only  natural  ditHculties 
had  to  be  overcome,  but  also  the  artiticial  obstacles  which  the  Ameri- 
cans had  placed  in  the  way  to  hinder  the  advance  of  their  opponents. 

"  On  the  ;kl  August,  the  Fort — after  the  garrison  had  rejectod  the 
demand  for  a  surrender — was  assaulted  without  success.  On  the  5th,  a 
relieving  column  of  nearly  1,01)0  men  drew  near.  St.  Leger  was  aware 
of  its  approach  in  time,  and  for  its  reception  [Sir  John  Johnson]  placed 
an  ambuscade  in  the  wo(»ds.  This  for  the  greater  part  consisted  of  regu- 
lar troi>ps,  and  among  these  were  the  IIes.se- Ilanau  Jagers.  [It  was 
the  intention  of  the  British  authorities  to  send  the  whole  Regiment  or 
Battalion  of  Flesse-IIanau  Chasseurs  or  Hitlemen,  but  only  one  com- 
pany arrived  in  time,  and  only  one  company,  not  over  40  or  50  men, 
was  furnished  to  St.  Leger.  |     The  rest  were  Indians." 

[This  account  differs  from  every  one  hitherto  examined,  and  shows 
even  yet  we  are  not  actiuainted  with  some  of  the  most  interesting  facts 


cxxxiv         The  Aiiihuseade  on  the  Oriskani/. 


of  this  niomcntous  conflict.  St.  Lcircr,'  in  his  ofliciul  report,  expressly 
states  tliat  he  did  not  send  over  80  white  men,  Hangers  and  troops  in- 
chided,  with  the  whole  cori)s  of  Indians,  and  that  Sir  Jolni  Johnson 
was  in  command.  The  discrepancy,  however,  is  easily  reconcilable 
with  what  has  been  hitherto  stated,  and  explains  the  late  arrival  of  the 
"  Joimson  "  or  "  Royal  Greens."  These  latter  must  have  remained  in 
camp  to  hold  the  garrison  in  check.  When  the  Indians  began  to  slink 
out  of  the  tight,  the  Koyal  Greens  must  have  been  hurried  to  the  scene 
of  action,  leaving  their  lines  to  the  south  of  the  Fort  entirely  destitute 
of  defenders.  This  estal)lished  what  the  writer  has  always  claimed, 
that  Willett  encountered  no  opposition  at  all  in  his  sortie,  and  that  the 
ordinary  accountsof  it  arc  no  better  than  a  myth.  Furthermore,  every- 
thing demonstrates  irrefutably  the  total  unreliability  of  the  Indians  as 
fighters;  and  that  the  failure  of  St.  Leger's  expedition  is  entirely  attri- 
buted to  the  misconduct  of  these  savages.  J'inally,  since  the  Burgoyne 
expedition  dejiended  on  St.  Leger's  success,  and  his  utter  military 
bankruptcy  is  chargeable  to  the  Indians,  and  to  them  alone,  therefore — 
as  is  clearly  shown — the  whole  British  Combined  Ojierations  of  1777 
ended  in  a  catastroi)he,  through  a  fatal  overestimate  of  the  value  of  In- 
dians as  a  fighting  power,  or  as  auxiliaries  wherever  any  hard  fighting 
had  to  be  done,  or  for  any  useful  purpose  whatever  involving  perse- 
verance.] 

"  The  surprise  was  such  a  perfect  success  scared}'  one-half  the  mi- 
litia escaped.  While  St.  Lcger  had  thus  scattered  his  troops,  the  be- 
sieged made  a  sortie  and  plundered  his  camp.  I'his  was  a  grievous 
loss  to  him  :  because  in  these  almost  desert  districts  prettj'  much  all 
the  necessaries  of  life  had  to  be  carried  [along  with  a  column |  ;  since 
the  British  troops  were  wanting  in  artillery,  and  since  a  second  relieving 
column,  2,000  strcmg,  was  approaching  under  the  audacious  Gen.  Ar- 
nold, which  threw  the  Indians  into  such  extreme  nervous  terror  that 
they  either  scattered  or  besought  that  tiiey  might  be  led  back  again. 
In  consequence  of  |alll  this,  St.  Leger  had  to  break  up  the  siege  on  the 
83d  August,  and,  abandoning  tents,  guns  and  stores,  retreat  at  once. 

"  So  ended  this  operation  ichirJi,  if  it  had  turned  out  more  success- 
fully,  icoukl,  in  any  event,  have  precented  the  tragic  fate  of  Burgoyne' s 
army." 

If  the  disinterested  German  soldier  and  historian,  "von  Eelking, 
does«o<  demonstrate  that  the  success  of  Burgoyne  depended  on  that  of 
St.  Leger,  and  that  this  wns  completely  frustrated  by  Oriskany,  thus 
making  Oriskany  the  turning  point  of  the  American  Revolution — 
words  are  inadequate  to  express  the  truth. 


||,nga.i]eiilin!f  near  ^,^ox'h  J||j1!j»/" 


OFTEN   STYLKD 


THE   BATTLE   OF   KLOCK'S    FIELD, 


iotii  ocToiiEH,  irso. 


"  ///story  is  not  >io:r-a-iiays  consfltcd  as  a  faithful  oracle  :  it  i>  latlier  treated 
like  the  (lid  lamp  as  too  rusty,  too  old  and  homely,  to  hear  light  aiiiidht  the  hla/e  of 
modern  Illumination,  but  more  valuable  as  an  instrument  of  incantation,  which,  by 
occasional  friction  upon  its  surface,  may  conjure  up  mighty  spirits  to  do  the  bidding 
of  a  master.  Such  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  a  good  and  faithful  magician 
will  not  be  employed  upon  baseless  fabrications^  that  new  power  may  dissolve,  but 
in  building  upon  f/ie  foundations  of  Truths  that  shall  still  hold  all  together,  in 
defiance  of  the  agency  of  even  the  same  enchantment  to  destroy  the  structures  it  has 
raised."'  Soithgatk's  ^'Many    Tlioughts  on  Many    J'/iings," 

Of  all  the  eiiga^euionts  wliicli  liave  occurred  upon  the 
soil  of  New  York,  the  "cock-pit,"  or  "the  Flanders," 
of  the  Colonies,  there  is  none  which  has  been  so  much  mis- 
represented as  this.  There  is  very  little  basis  for  the  nar- 
rative generally  accepted  as  history.  Envy,  hatred  and 
malice  have  painted  every  picture,  and  even  gone  so  far  as 
to  maliji;n  the  State  commander,  the  scion  of  a  familv  who 
risked  more  than  anv  other  for  the  Commonwealth,  to  con- 
ceal  and  excuse  the  bad  conduct  of  his  troops.     As  for  the 


*  Sometimes  confounded  witli  that  of  Stone  Arabia  (on  or  near  de 
Peyster  Patent) ;  East  side  of  Caroga  Creeii,  where  it  empties  into  the 
Mohawlv   Hiver,  near  St.  Jolinsville,  Montgomery  County,  S.  N.  y., 
sixty-three  miles  AV.  hy  N.  of  Albany. 
cxxxv 


CXXXVl 


KmjiUjeracnt  near  JFows  Mt'll.'^ 


leader  of  the  Loyalists,  it  is  no  wonder  that  liis  reputation 
fared  1)adlv  at  tlie  hands  of  a  connnunitv  wlioni  he  liad 
made  to  suifer  so  severely  for  their  sins  au'ainst  justice,  his 
family  connections,  friends  and  himself.  The  State  I'rlua- 
dier-General  was  wronufullv  accused  ami  abused,  althouah 
acquitted  of  every  charge  by  his  peers,*  and  highly  com- 
mended for  activity,  tidelity,  prudence,  si)irit  and  conduct. 
The  Royal  leader,  like  the  State  comnumder,  was  also  sub- 
jected to  the  false  accusation  of  want  of  courage,  on  the 
statement  of  u  personal  enemy ;  but,  like  his  antagonist, 
received  the  highest  commendation  of  his  superior,  a  vote- 
ran  and  i)roticient. 

Before  attempting  to  describe  what  actually  occurred  on 
the  date  of  the  collision,  a  brief  introduction  is  necessary 
to  its  comprehension.  The  distinguished  Peter  Van 
Schaack  (Stone's  "  Sir  William  Johnson,"  II.,  3SS)  pro- 
nounced Sir  William  Johnson  '••  the  gkeatest  charactek 
OF  THE  AGE,''  the  alJcst  man  who  figured  in  our  imme- 
mediate  Colonial  history.  He  was  certaiidy  the  benefactor 
of  Central  Kew  York,  the  protector  of  its  menaced  fron- 
tier, the  first  who  by  victories  stayed  the  flood-tide  of 
French  invasion.  Ilis  son,  Sir  John,  succeeded  to  the 
bulk  of  his  vast  possessions  in  the  most  troublous  times  of 
New  York's  history.  He  owed  everything  to  the  Crown 
and  iK>thing  to  the  People,  and  yet  the  People,  because  he 
would  not  betray  his  duty  to  the  Crown,  drove  him  forth 


*  "  French's  Gazetteer,"  432  ;  Stone's  "  Brant,"  II.,  12'l-5  ;  Stone's 
"  Bonier  Wars,"  ii.,  126-7  ;  Simin's  "Schoharie  County,"  430-1 ;  Camp- 
bell's "Border  Wars,"  199-301. 


En(ja(jeraent  near  Fojy 8  M'llh.  cxxxvii 


and  despoiled  liiin.  More  than  once  he  returned  in  arms 
to  }»unish  and  retrieve,  at  a  greater  hazard  than  any  to 
which  the  mere  professional  soldier  is  suhjected.  V>\  the 
detestable  laws  of  this  end)ryo  State,  even  a  peaceable  re- 
turn subjected  liim  to  the  risk  of  a  halter ;  consequently, 
in  addition  to  the  ordinary  perils  of  battle,  he  fought,  as  it 
were,  with  a  rope  around  his  neck.  There  was  no  lionor- 
able  captivity  for  him.  Tiie  same  pitiless  revenge  which, 
after  King's  Mountain  (S.  C),  in  the  same  month  and  year 
(7th  October,  1780),  strung  up  a  dozen  Loyalist  officers  and 
soldiers  would  have  sent  him  speedily  to  execution.  The 
coldly  cruel  or  unrelentingly  severe — choose  between  the 
terms — Governor  Clinton  would  have  shown  no  pity  to 
one  who  had  struck  harder  and  oftener  than  any  other, 
and  left  the  record  of  liis  visitations  in  letters  of  iire  on  vast 
tablets  of  ashes  coherent  witli  blood. 

In  1777,  through  the  battle-plans  of  Sir  John,  a  major- 
ity of  the  effective  manhood  of  the  Mohawk — among  these 
some  of  his  particular  persecutors — perished  at  Oriskany. 
Neither  Sir  John  Johnson  nor  Brant  had  anything  to  do 
witli  Wyoming.  This  is  indisputable,  despite  the  bitter 
words  and  flowing  verses  of  historians,  so  called,  and  poets, 
drawing  false  fancy  pictures  of  what  never  had  any  actual 
existence.  In  1779,  his  was  the  spirit  M'hich  induced  the 
Indians  to  make  an  effort  to  arrest  Sullivan,  and  it  was  Sir 
John,  at  length,  interposed  between  this  General  and 
his  great  objective,  Niagara,  if  it  was  not  the  very  know- 
ledge that  Sir  John  was  concentrating  forces  in  his  front 
that  caused  Sullivan  to  turn  back.    In  the  following  autumTi 


cxxxviii         Kn<j<i<jcment  near  Fox'^s  Mills. 

(1770)  he  miido  liimself  master  of  tlie  key  of  the  "great 
portage"  between  Ontario  and  tlie  Moliawk,  and  his  tar- 
tlier  visitation  of  the  valley  eastward  was  only  frustrated 
by  the  stormy  season  on  the  great  lake  by  whicli  alone  he 
could  receive  reinforcements  and  supplies. 

In  May,  17S0,  starting  from  l>ulwagga  I>ay  (near  Crown 
Point)  on  Lake  Champlain,  he  constructed  a  military  road 
through  the  wilderness — of  which  ve&tiges  are  still  plainly 
visible — ascende<l  the  Sacondaga,  crossed  the  intervening 
watershed,  and  fell  (on  Sunday  night,  :ilst  May)  with  the 
suddenness  of  a  waterspout  upon  his  rebellious  l)irthplace, 
accomplished  his  purpose,  left  behind  him  a  dismal  testi- 
mony of  his  visitation,  and  despite  the  pursuit  of  aggre- 
gated enemies,  escaped  with  his  recovered  plate,  rich  booty 
and  numerous  prisoners. 

It  was  during  this  expedition  that  Sir  William's  fishing 
house  and  summer  house  on  the  Sacondaga  were  destroyed, 
and  it  is  a  wonder  Sir  John  did  not  burn  to  the  ground  the 
family  hall  at  Johnstown.  This  was  not  a  raid,  but  an  in- 
vasion, which  depended  for  success  upon,  at  least,  demon- 
strations by  the  British  forces  in  New  York.  As  in  1777 
and  1779,  and  again  in  the  fall  of  1780,  there  was  nothing 
done  by  the  indolent  professionals. 

In  August-September  of  the  same  year,  he  organized  a 
second  expedition  at  Lachine  (nine  miles  above  Montreal), 
ascended  the  St.  Lawrence,  crossed  Lake  Ontario,  followed 
up  the  course  of  the  Oswego  River,  coasted  the  southern 
shore  of  Oneida  Lake,  until  he  reached  the  mouth  of  Chit- 
tenango   Creek    (western   boundary   of  Madison    County 


EnijiKj'  ini  ht  tu'ii}'   y't>./''.v   Mills.  cx.wix 

and  C'jisteni  of  ()ii<)iulau:ji  (bounty),  wlu'ro  hi'  left  liis 
Ixittinu,!'  und  canoes,  struck  <»tf  southeastward  up  the 
Chittenauiro,  thou  crossiui?  the  Uuadilhiand  the  CIuirh)tte, 
(sometimes  called  the  East  hranch  of  the  Sustjuehanua), 
and  descendi'd  in  a  tem])est  of  flame  into  the  ricii  settle- 
ments alon^  the  Schoharie,  which  ho  struck  at  what  was 
known  as  tho  Upper  Fort,  now  Fnltoidiam,  Schoharie 
County.* 

Thence  he  wasted  the  wliok'  of  this  rich  valley  to  the 
mouth  of  this  stream,  and  then  turnin<;-  westward  completed 
the  devastation  of  every  thinu:  which  preceding:  inroads  liad 
spared.  (Stone's  "Brant,"  11.,  124.)  The  preliminary 
nuirch  tlirouijh  natural  obstacles,  appirt'ontly  insurmount- 
able to  an  armed  force,  was  one  of  certaiidy  200  ndles. 
The  succeedin<ji:  sweep  and  retreat  embraced  almost  as 
many.  The  result,  if  rei)orte(l  with  any  correctness,  mi<;;ht 
recall  Sir  Walter  Scott's  lines  ("  Vision  of  Don  liodcrick," 
Conclusion  11.) : 

"  Wliile  downward  on  the  land  his  legions  press, 
Before  him  it  was  rich  with  vine  and  ttoeii, 

And  smil'd  Iil<e  Eden  in  her  siiniiner  dress, — 
Beliind  tlieir  marcli  a  liowliiij'  wilderness." 


More  than  one  contem])orary  statement  attests  that  the 
invasion  carried  things  back  to  tlie  uncertainties  of  the  old 
French  inroads  and  reinvested  Schenectady  with  the  dan- 


*  If  the  old  maps  of  this  then  savage  country  are  reliahle,  he  maj' 
have  crossed  from  the  valley  of  the  Charlotte  into  tliat  of  the  Mohawk 
Branch  of  the  Delaware,  or  the  Pa,<ontuck  Branch  further  east  again. 
From  either  there  was  a  portage  of  only  a  few  miles  to  the  Schoharie 
Kill. 

19 


cxl 


Kn<j(i(jr)n.ent  near  Fo.ru  Mlllx. 


iiC'i'(»iis  honor  ot"  l)«.'iu^  coiisidorcd  jii^aiii  a  front iur  |»»ist. 
(TIoii^'li'8  "NortluMMi  Iiivjisioii,"  i;U,  144. 

Till'  iniincdiatc  local  <lauiaiu:t'  done  l»y  Sir  .Folin,  trlt/un 
tlic  territory  atlectod  by  liis  visitation,  was  notJiinir  in 
conii)arison  to  the  ('onstM] nonet's,  militarily  considered, 
nutlinHt  \\\v»v.  The  destrnction  of  hreadstnffs  and  t'oraire 
was  enoi'inons.  AVashiii<;ton  and  tlie  army  felt  it,  since 
the  districts  invaded  and  wasted  were  granaries  on  which 
the  American  connnissariat  and  (jnartermaster's  dejiart- 
ment  depended  in  a  irreat  measure  for  the  daily  rations 
which  they  liad  to  provide.  The  nninher  of  hnshels  of 
wheat  and  other  p-ain  rendered  v.-orthless  '' tlireatened 
alarming  consecjuences."  Eijrl  ty  tliousand  bushels  were 
lost  in  the  Sclioharie  settlement  alone.  Washington  ad- 
mits this  in  a  letter  to  the  President  of  ('ongress,  dated  7tli 
November,  ITNO.  Had  the  l^>ritish  military  authorities  in 
New  York  and  in  Canacbi  been  alive  to  tlie  advantages  to  be 
derived  from  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Central  New  York, 
they  might  l)ave  enabled  Sir  .lohn  to  strike  a  blow  tliat 
M'ould  liave  shaken  tlie  fabric  of  Ee volution,  throughout  the 
Middle  States,  at  least.  Alas  !  they  seem  to  have  been 
possesse<l  with  the  spirit  of  inertion  and  incaj)acity,  and  the 
abamloned  Lovalists  mi<rht  have  exclaimed,  with  Fhland  : 


Forward  !   Onward !   far  and  fortli ! 
An  eartlKiuako  shout  awakes  tlie  North. 

Forward  I 
Forward  !  Onward  !  far  and  forth  ! 
.Vnd  prove  what  gallant  hearts  are  worth." 

Forward  !  " 


Kntjinji  iiu'ut  iwar   Fo^k   Mllh. 


fxli 


Till'  tcrrll'viii^  iiitt'IIiucMicc  of  tlio  sipiJuarance  of  this 
litfk'  "army  (»t'  veui^ejiMcc  "  aroiisi'd  tlu*  wliolo  ciieriry  of 
cotcniiinous  districts;  the  militia  were  us.scinhlud  in  liasti', 
uihI  |)Us1i(m1  forward  totlio  i)oint  of  danger,  under  Briiradier- 
Genoral  Kohortvan  Kenssi'laer,  ofCMaverack  (now  (N)liim- 
liia  County),  who  wero  «;uided  into  the  presence  of  their 
eneniv  literallv  1)V  "pilhirs  of  tire  hv  nii^-iit  and  cohimns 
of  smoke  hy  (hiy.''  AltiioUii;h  he  knew  tliat  he  was  pur- 
sued hy  forces  treble  or  (juadruple  if  not  (|nintui>le  liis  own, 
ISir  .lolm  continued  to  burn  and  ilestrov  ui)  to  the  verv  hour 
wlien  his  trooj)s  were  obliged  to  lay  aside  the  torch  to  re- 
sume tlieir  firelocks.  In  fact,  if  the  two  eni^airements  of 
the  10th  of  October,  177<>,  were  contemidated  parts  of  a 
combined  ]»lan  to  overwhelm  Sir  .fohn,  he  actually  fouirht 
and  burned  simultaneously.  To  whomsoever  a  contemix.- 
raneous  maj)  of  this  country  is  accessible,  it  will  be  evident 
how  vast  a  district  was  subjected  to  this  war  cyclone.  On 
the  very  day  (li»th  October)  that  van  Rensselaer  was  at 
Fort  Plain,  the  tlourishing  settlements  of  Stone  Aral»ia 
(Palatine  Township,  Montii^omery  County),  a  few  miles  to 
the  westM'ard,  were  destroyed.  Findiuiij  that  he  must  liirht, 
either  to  arrest  pursuit  or  to  insure  retreat.  Sir  John  hastily 
assembled  some  of  liis  wearied  troops,  while  others  kept  on 
burninir  ia  every  direction,  to  engage  the  garrison  of  Fort 
Paris — constructed  to  protect  the  Stone  Arabia  settlement 
(Simm's  "Schoharie  County.''  42r)) — which  nuirched  out 
to  intercept  him  under  Colonel  Brown,  an  officer  of  un- 
doubted ability  and  of  tried  courage.  Brown's  immediate 
force  consisted  of  130  men  of  the  Massachusetts  Levies, 


cxlii 


Ku(ja<ji:inent  mar  K(),r\s  Mills. 


and  a  IkxIv  of  militia— 7<>  and  upwards — whose  munlicrs 
and  co-opci'ation  st-cnu'd  to  have  Ix'cn  stndionsly  conecalt'd 
l)V  almost  cviTV  writer  at  the  ix-riod  ;  tliat  tliere  were  mi- 
litia  present  is  un(iuestionahii'.  It  is  almost,  if  not  abso- 
hitelv,  certain  tliat  I)rown  niarehed  ont  of  Fort  Paris  in 
pursuance  of  the  orilers  and  plan  of  van  Rensselaer,  in  oi-- 
der  to  cut  Sir  John  off  from  Ins  line  of  retreat,  and  lioldhim 
or  "'head  liim ''  until  van  Rensselaer  could  fall  upon  him 
with  overwliehniui;  mmd)eis.  The  saiiu'  failure  to  co- 
operate  in  executimr  a  very  sensible  piece  of  strateijy  sac- 
rificed Ilarkheimer  to  Sir  .lolm  at  Oriskany,  some  three 
years  j>reviously,  and  resulted  iri  a  similar  catastrophe.  To 
ap[)reciate  and  to  forestall  was  the  immediate  and  only  so- 
lution. Sir  .John  attacked  Colonel  Brown — like  "  now, 
on  the  head,"  as  Suwai-row  phrased  it — a])out  !»or  H»  .v.  m., 
killed  him  and  about  1(>()  of  his  men,  and  cajjtnred  several 
(Hough's  "•Northern  Invasions"  says  40  killed  and  two 
prisoners),  and  sent  the  survivors  flying  into  van  Rensse- 
laer's lines,  to  infect  them  with  the  terror  of  the  slaughter 
from  which  they  had  just  escaped.  The  Stone  Arabia  tight, 
in  which  Colonel  J>rown  fell,  was  only  two  miles  distant 
from  the  "Nose,"  where  van  liensselaer's  forces  had  al- 
ready arrived.  They  heard  the  tiring  just  as  twilight  was 
melting  into  night,  in  a  valley  where  the  latter  prematurely 
reigned  through  the  masses  of  smoke  from  burning  build- 
ings, which  brooded  like  a  black  fog,  sensible  t<t  the  touch. 
Van  Rensselaer  came  uj»on  the  position  where  Sir  Jt>hn 
had  ''settled"  himself  lo  resist.  This  "settled"  is  most 
apj)osite.     It  recalls  a  sj)ectacle  often  visible  in  our  woods, 


Enijaijfini  nt    IK  (II'    Fo,i'\h   J////,y. 


CXJlU 


wlicn  Ji  predatory  luiwk,  wearied  witli  liis  Hiirlit,  settles  on 
a  liiid)  t«»  rest  and  resist  a  tloek  of  eiK-oiiipassiiii;  furious 
crows,  whose  nests  lie  lias  just  invaded. 

To  refer  back  to  the  dai'kness  oeeasioned  l»y  smoke,  it 
may  l»e  necessary  to  state  that  the  dwellers  of  cities  or  .-Id 
cultivated  districts  have  no  conception  of  the  atmosj>heric 
disturiiance  occasioned  hy  extensive  con tl aerations  in  a 
woode«l  country.* 

It  is  only  lately  that  forest  fires,  comminirled   with  t'oii". 
so  obscured  the  atmosphere  aloiio-  the  coast,  to  the  east- 
ward, that  lamps  and  uas  were  necessary  in  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon. 

AVhat  is  more,  the  eveninir  air  in  Octolter  is  often  heavy 
through  a  surcharire  of  dampness,  esi)ecially  ah)ni;  lari,'e 
streams  ajid  in  bottom  lands.  To  such  as  can  ima.ijine  this 
condition  of  the  atm(»spliere,  it  will  at  once  become  evi- 
dent bow  much  it  was  auirniented  inmiediately  after  a  few 
volleys  from  about  two  thousand  muskets,  the  smoke  of  the 
cftntbiiirations.  and  the  exi>losions  of  the  j)owder,  render- 
ing^ objects  invisible  almost  at  arms'  len<;th.  This  is  estab- 
lished l>y  the  testimony  of  a  irallant  American  ofticei-,  Coi. 


*  The  (lark  day  in  Miissacliusctts,  of  li)fh  May,  1780,  was  due  to 
tliis  causi' (Hcatli,  2.%-T-H),  when  artlticiai  iii.irlit,  culminatinjr  ahoiii 
noon,  sent  the  animal  creation  to  roost  and  repose  with  less  exceptions 
tlian  duriii.i,'  tlie  coinpletest  eclipse,  and  filled  the  nnnds  of  men  with 
apprehension  and  asl(misliineiit.  This  is  not  the  only  "dark  day"  so 
recorded.  On  Me  25fh  October,  1820,  at  New  York,  candlelig:  .  was 
necessary  at  U  A.  m.  The  alth  May,  ITSO,  was  another  "dark  day" 
in  Canada,  where  similar  phenomena  were  observed  on  the  !>th,  ir)tli 
and  Uith  October,  ITSr).  On  the  last,  "  it  is  said  to  have  been  as  dark 
as  a  dark  night."    .Several  other  instances  a.e  chronicled. 


CXMV 


Entjafjeiiient  near  F<>,r\H  M/ll.-i. 


Dubois  (II()n<jli,  Isli-o),  wlio  stilted  tluit  sliortly  iit'tcr  the 
firiiijjj  l)C'caiiie  warm,  wlion  witliiu  fixe  ])uc('8  of  liis  general, 
he  could  only  recoffuize  liiiii  by  his  voice.  Tlierefore  tor 
anyone  to  pretend  to  relate  what  occurred  within  the  lines 
of  Sir  John  Johnson  a  few  (15  i)  minutes  aftei'  volleys  had 
been  exchamred  alonu:  the  whole  fronts,  is  simi)lv  drawinu- 
u]ion  the  "imagination  for  facts."  (^onse(|uently,  when 
the  American  wi-iters  say  that  the  enemy  broke  and  ran,  it 
was  simi)lv  attributinir  to  them  what  was  occurrinii:  within 
van  Kensselaer's  lines,  where  the  oiticers  could  not  restrain 
tlie  rear  from  tiring  over  and  Into  the  front,  and  from 
breakinir  beyond  the  power  of  beinir  rallied.  Doubtless, 
as  alwavs,  the  rcirulars  on  ])oth  sides  beliaved  as  well  as 
circumstances  ])ermitted.  Sir  John's  Indians,  ojiposed  to 
the  American  Continentals  and  Levies  for  the  defence  of 
the  frontiers,  it  is  very  likely  gave  way  almost  at  once. 
])raiit,  their  gallant  and  able  leader,  was  wounded  in  the 
heel,  and  therefore  unable  to  move  about,  encourage  them 
and  hold  them  up  to  their  work.  Thus  cripj)led  he  had 
enough  to  do  to  get  off,  for  if  taken  he  knew  well  that  his 
shrift  would  l»e  short  and  his  ''despatch  "  speedy,  if  not 
"hapjn-."  Sir  Jolin  was  also  struck  in  the  thigh,  and  was 
charged  with  (putting  the  iield.  The  only  evidence  of  this  is 
derived  from  one  of  his  bitter  })ersonal  enemies,  surcharged 
with  s])ite  and  a  desire  for  vengeance.  IIow  bitterly  he 
felt  can  be  easily  conceived,  when  he  tiu'ned  u})on  van 
Rensselaer  and  en)j)hasized: — (Stone's  "Brant,"  IT.,  124- 
5,  tfcc.)  Colonel  Stone  remarks,  "other  accounts  8i)eak  dif- 
ferently."    (M/V,  II.,  122.) 


Knijatjenunt  ncdv  Fnxs  Mills. 


cxlv 


Gon.  Sir  Frederick  IIuldiiiuiiKl  wroto  to  tlie  home  <;o- 
vernnieiit  tliar  Sir  Jolm  "  liad  destroyed  tlie  settlements  of 
Sclioharie  and  Stone  Arabia,  and  laid  waste  a  lari;-e  extent 
of  country,"  Mhieli  was  most  true,      it  M-as  adde<l  : 

''  He  had  several  enira^ements  with  the  enemy,  in  which 
he  came  off  victorious.     In  one  of  them,  near  Stone  Arabia, 
lie  killed  a  Col.  Brown,  a  notorious  and  active  rebel,  with 
about  one  hundred  otHcers  and  men."     '•  I  cannot  tinish 
without  expressin.i,^  to  your  Lordshij)  the  jh^rfecfmf/sf act  Ion 
ir/i/e/t  I  hiwefroni  the  zatl,  spirit  and  activit>i  >rith  vhioh 
Sn-  John  Johnson  ha.s  conduetid  this  arduous  cnterprist.'''' 
Max  von  Eelkins;  (II.,  1!M>-L>(»0),  in  his  compilation  of 
contem].oraneons  observations,  iiresents  the  followin"'  tes- 
timony  of  thejudi,nnent  and  reliability  of  the  sui)erior,  Gen. 
Ilaldimand,    who    reported,    otHcially,    in    such    tlatterini? 
terms  of  the  result  of  Sir  John's  expedition.     He  says  of 
Ilaldimand  that   ''he  passed,  according- to  En^dish  ideas, 
for  one  of  the  hrst  and  most  trustworthij  of  British  tjene- 
ra/s;  had  foui^bt  with  distinction  durin<r  the  Seven  Years' 
War  in  Germany.     *     *     :<•     JL  was  a  man  strictly  up- 
right, lind-heartcd  and  honorafde.     *     *     *     Always  of 
a  character  (piite  formal  and  punctilious  as  to  eticjuette,  he 
was  very  fastidious  in  his  intercourse,  and  did  not  easily 
make  new  ac(juaintances.    *     *     -    He  requireiJ continual 
activity  from  his  subordinates,     *     '^     *     A  Jirunswick 
officer  considers  him  one  of  the  most  worthy  oj^'cers  Emf- 
land  has  ever  had.     *     *     '^-     This  was  about  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man  to  whom  now  the  fate  of  the  Camulas  was 
intrusted  by  his  I^ritannic  Majesty." 


cxivi 


Eixjoijiiin'nt  near  F(>.i'\s  MHIn. 


It  now  st'cnis  a  fitting  time  to  ('<»nsi(l('i'  tin-  nuiulH>r  of 
tlio  ()j)]K>sing  forces  tMii;a<;ed.  Tliere  luis  i>e('n  u  stutiit'd 
Uttenij)t  to  ajipreclatt'  tlmso  present  under  Sir  .lohn  and  to 
dejtreeiate  tliose  at  tlie  disposal  of  \ iu\  Kensseiaer.  The 
8anie  liolds  ijood  witli  rei;ard  to  the  h)sses  of  the  foi'iuer  ; 
Avliereas  tlie  casnahies  suti'ered  hv  the  hitier  are  stndiouslv 
concealed.  No  two  works  ap:ree  in  regard  to  tlie  column 
led  h\  .lohnson.  It  has  been  estinuited  even  ashiirh  as  1500, 
whereas  a  critical  exandmition  of  its  conijionent  parts  de- 
monstrates that  it  couhl  not  have  comju-ised  much  more 
than  a  thii-d  of  this  nund)er  at  the  outset.  As  all  Sir  .lohn's 
papers  were  lost  in  the  Ei^vptian  darkness  of  the  idii-ht  of 
the  19th  October,  it  is  necessarv  to  fall  l)ack  ujion  contem- 
poraneous works  for  every  detail. 

The  i»ro(bict  of  this  calculation  exactlv  ai;rees  with  the 
statement  end»odied  in  the  testimony  of  Colonel  Harper  : 
"The  enemv's  force  \vas  about  40(t  white  men  and  but 
few  Indians,  The  ]K)st  from  Albany,  18th  October,  rei>orted 
that  Sir  Jolm's  party  were  "said  to  be  about  500  men 
come  down  the  Mohawk  River."  (TTou<;h^s  "  Nortliern 
Invasion,"  1*22.) 

When  Sir  .lohn  struck  the  Charlotte  or  Eastern  Susque- 
hanna he  was  joined  by  several  hundred  Indians.  Ihit  a 
<puirrel  founded  on  jealousy — sinnlar  to  sudi  as  was  the 
curse  of  every  agirrciration  of  Scottish  Ilii^hland  tribes, 
even  under  ISfontrose,  Cluverhouse  and  the  Pretender — 
so( !!  after  occurred,  and  several  hundreds  abandoned  him.* 
(Simnrs   "  Schoharie  County,  3!M».) 

*TIk'  actual  composition  of  Sir  Jolin  Joliiison's  txpeditioiiiiry  lo- 


Kn(/(UJriin  ilf    nrd)'    Fi'.r's     Mills. 


cxlvii 


(Jrt'iit  stress  lijis  jilso  hcfii  laid  on  Sir  Jcjlm's  hfiiiix  pro- 
vided with  artilli'rv.  |Tlu'  Aim-ric-aii  iiviu'ra!  did  liave 
unite  lieavv -iiiiis  lor  the  period  and  locality,  nine  pounders.  | 

linun  is  well  known,  Iiowcvcr  often  willfully  misstiitcd.  \\v  liail  tlirci- 
«()ini)iini(s  of  his  own  Hciriincnt  of  "  Hoviil  (ircens,"  or  •' Loyul  New 
Vorkcis  ;"  one  company  oT  Ocrnian  Jaircrs  ;  om-  conijiany  of  British 
Kf!.nilais  hclouirinii-  to  tlic  Kiuhlh  (Major,  afurwards  Coloiu-I  A.  S.  tk- 
Poystrr's)  Kintr's  Hcirjincnt  of  Foot,  which  ixrfornu'd  duty  by  dt'tach- 
nicnts  all  alonir  Ihc  Irontiir  from  Montreal  to  the  farthest  west,  and  in 
every  raid  and  hostile  inovoinent— besides  detaehinents— a  eomiiany 
or  platoon  from  the  Twentieth,  and  (r)  also  tioni  the  Thirty-fourth 
Hritish  Infantry,  iind  a  detachment— sometimes  rated  by  the  Americans 
as  hiuh  MS  two  hundred  nn^n— from  Hutler's  Loyalist  or  Tory  Wanirers. 
Sir.Iobn  in  his  reports  of  casualties  mentions  these  all,  except  the  Twen- 
tieth l{e.«:iment,  and  no  others.  Fii^ure  this  up.  and  lake  sixty  as  a  fair 
allowance  for  the  numerical  force  of  a  comiiany.  w  Inch  is  too  larije  an 
allowance,  basini,'  it  on  the  avera,<:;e  strength  of  Hriiisli  re<:imenfs  w  hicli 
had  seen  active  service  for  any  leni,'lh  of  time  (.u  this  continent,  and 
six  times  sixty  makes  tlnee  tiundredand  sixty,  plus  two  hundred,  irives 
tive  hunilred  and  sixty.  Deduct  a  fair  percentaije  for  the  footsore  and 
oth<r  casualties  inseparable  from  such  service,  ami  it  reduc<'s  his  wintes 
down  to  exactly  wluit  Colon*'!  Harper  states  was  reported  to  him  by 
an  Indian  as  beini,'  at  Klock's  Field. 

Colonel  W.  L.  Stone  ("  Brant,"  11.,  105)  specifies  three  companies  of 
Sir  John's  own  Heniinent  of  Greens,  one  company  of  German  ,Ia<rers,  a 
detachment  of  twohundred  nu-ndhmbtful  authority  cIie(I)from  Butler's 
HaniTi-rs,  and  one  (only  one)  com|»any  of  British  Hesrulars.  The  In- 
dian portion  of  this  expedition  was  chietly  colle<ied  under  Brant  at 
Tio'za  Point,  on  the  Sus(iuehanna,  which  they  ascended  to  L'nadilla. 
Stone  s  lan.sruaue.  "  besides  iMohawks,"  is  ambiirucms.  Sir  John  had 
few  Indians  left— as  was  usually  tJu-  case  witli  tliese  savajres— w hen 
tliay  had  "  to  faci'  the  music." 

Governoi- ("lintim  (llou^di's  "  Xortliern  Invasion,"  l.")4)  estimates 
Sir  John's  force  at  seven  hundred  and  fifty  picked  troops  uml  Indians. 
Very  few  Indians  were  in  the  tiirhi  of  the  Mdli  October,  p.  m.  Other  cor- 
roJ)orations  have  already  been  adduced.  Simm's  ("Schoharie  County." 
;}9I))  says  that  Sir  John  Irfl  Nia>;ara  with  about  five  hundred  British. 
Royalist  and  (brman  troops,  antl  was  joined  by  a  larire  b»»dy  of  Indians 
and  Tories  under  Ca|)tain  Brant,  on  tlie  Susipielnnuia.  makintihisetfcc- 
20 


•xlviii 


KtKJtHjciiK  ni    null'    Fo.r's    Milh. 


Close  studv  exploded  this  pluiDtasv  likewise.  That  lie 
lie  liad  several  pieces  of  extremely  liiilit  artillery,  liardly 
deservinn'    the    iiaiiie,    with    him    as    far    as    ('hitteiiaii<;o 

live  force.  "  as  est iniiitcd  ;it  llic  scvcijil  forts."  one  tliousniul  men.  If 
this  estimate  is  erediteil  to  the  several  forts  who  were  '"  panicky,"  tlie 
condition  of  their  vision  remh'rs  its  correctness  nnwortiiy  of  acct'j)t- 
ancc.     He  tlieii  troes  on  to  say  tliat  several  iiundred   Indians  <hserfed. 

The  slreniTtli  of  regiments  varied  from  three  iiundred  and  un(h'rto 
six  hundred  and  fifty.  It  is  well  known  that  some  .\meiican  rei:imenls 
scarcely  rose  ahove  ime  iiundred  rank  and  tile.  It  is  almost  uniiiii- 
moiisly  conceded  that  Ilarkheiiner  had  at  least  four  reirinients — if  not 
five — the  whole  comiirisiiiu:  only  eiL':lit  or  nine  hundred  men,  at  Oris- 
kany.     This  does  not  include  volunteers,  Indians,  iVc,  «.V:c. 

(tcneral  van  Rensselaer,  jud.irinir  from  the  testimony  triven  hcfore 
the  Court  of  Kmiuiry.  and  his  own  Iett<'rs  (Simms,4'25.i^-c.),  had  seven 
to  nine  hundred  militia  when  he  reached  Schenectady.  It  is  very  hard 
to  calculate  his  ultimate  agirreiiate  of  militia.  He  liad  at  tirsl  his  own 
(Maverack  Uriijade.  The  Citij  of  Albany  Militia  and  siniteother  Ilcf/i- 
vn'itts  had  preceded  him.  Colonel  Van  Alstyne's  He^inient  joined  him 
by  another  route.  How  did  (\)lonel  Cuyler's  .Mliany  Heirinicnt  come 
up  ?  Colonel  Clyde  reinforced  liim  with  thcCanajoharie  District  Hi'jji- 
ment(Tryon  County,  for  military  purjioses,  was  divided  into  Districts, 
each  of  which  furnished  its  (|UOta),  likewise  (Sinun's,  f','.'))  "the  Scho- 
harie .Militia"  "near  Fort  Hunter."  This  dissection  miiiht  he  followed 
out  further  to  mai;nify  the  American  force,  and  show  asrainst  what 
tremendous  odds  Sir  John  presented  an  undaunted  front,  and  what 
numhers  he  shocked,  repulsed  and  foiled.  Van  IJensselaer  was  after- 
wards Joined  hy  the  Continental  Infantry,  under  Coloinl  Morgan 
Lewis:  the  \ew  York  7!/«.Y<-rci!:uIars  or  Levies,  three  or  four  hun- 
dred, under  Colonel  Dubois  ;  .McKean's  Volunteers,  sixty  ;  the  Indians 
under  Colonel  Louis,  sixty  ;  John  Ostrom,  a  soldier  present,  adds 
(Simm's  "  Schoharie  County,"  4'24)  two  hundred  Indians  under  Colonel 
Harper,  the  .\rtiilery  and  the  Horse.  The  Militia  of  Albany  County 
wereorirani/.ed  into  seventeen  r<'p;iments  ;  of  Charlotte  County  into  one; 
ofTryon  County  inte  five  ;  besides  these  there  were  other  troops  at 
hand  under  dilVerent  names  and  peculiarities  of  service.  It  is  certaiji 
that  all  the  Militia  of  Albany,  Charlotte  and  Tryon  Counties,  and  every 
other  orjranizat  ion  that  were  accessible,  were  hurriid  to  meet  Sir  John, 
and  severe  Clinton  was  not  the  man  to  brook  shirking.     Twenty-three 


F.n{lii(J<in>nt   nriii'    Ftt.ra    M'llh 


CXllX 


C^i't'ck  is  true  (Ilimmioiwrs  "^Arjulison  ('(nmty,*'  ♦'»,')<>). 
Two  of  tlit'sc  he  sunk  iiitiMitionjilly  in  this  sti'cain,  oi-  I'lso 
tliov  went  to  its  liottoiu  accidi'Utally.  'I'licncc  lie  caiTiiMl  on 
two  littK'  tour  ami  tln'ce-tiuai'tcr  [miuikU'I'  uiortars.  proh- 
ahly  "Tioyals,"'  and  UiiTasslioppor  tlii't'c-jxtuudiT.  As  our 
armies  were  well  a("<n"unti'(l  with  tlu;  improved  (^»horns 
used  at  tlie  sieije  of  I\'tei-shur^,  it  is  unnecessaj-y  to  exphiin 
that  tliey  were  uttt-rly  impotent  a_i;ainst  stone  hiiihliiiijs,  or 
even  tht>se  constructed  of  lieavy  h)ii-s.  The  Coliorns  of  1 7><0 
were  just  wliat  St.  Le<;er  reported  ot  them  in  177" — tliat 
tliev  were  i>-ood  for  "teazini;,''  and  nothing;  more.  Kven 
one  of  these  Sir  John  submerired  in  a  marsli  after  his  at- 
tempt up(»n  the  MichUe  Fort,  now  Mi«hlU'l>urij,  Clinton 
(157)  wrote  that  both  wei'e  ''concealed  ( ahan«loned  |  l»y 
the  L«»yalists  on  their  route  from  Sciioharie."' 

Most  likely  it  was  an  impediment.  And  nothin<;  is  af- 
terwards mentioned  of  the  use  of  the  other.  The  "<;rass- 
liopper  "  three-pounder  derived  its  name  from  tliefact  that 
it  was  not  mounted  ujion  wheels,  but  ujxui  iron  lei^s.  It 
was  one  of  those  almost  useless  little  ^uns  which  were 
transj)orted  on  bat-horses,  just  as  twelve-pounder  moun- 
tain liowitzers  are  still  carrie<i  on  pack  ani'.nals.  As  Sir 
Jolin-s  horses,  draught  and  beef  cattle,  a[)pear  to  have 
been  stampeded  in  the  confusion  of  the  intense  (Uirkness ; 


rt'irimi'uts  of  Militia  mui^t  liavc  i)n)duccd  twenty-four  luuidred  men — ii 
ridiculonsly  siniill  tii::ur('.  Add  the  other  troops  known  to  be  with  van 
Rensselaer,  and  he  faced  the  Loyal  leader  with  tive  or  six  times  as  many 
as  the  latter  had  ;  or  else  tiie  Claverack  Hrijiadier  had  with  him  only  a 
startlinj^  redundancy  of  field  otllcors  and  a  disgraceful  deficiency  of 
rank  and  file. 


n^ 


•1 


KmjiKJi  in<  ut    lirav    J'o.r's    Mllh. 


almost  ovorvtliinij:  \vliicli  was  tiot  uikhi  liis  soldier's  \\v\'- 
sons,  or  lijid  not  Ikhmi  sent  forward  when  he  "settled"  at 
Kloek's  Field  t(»  check  |>nrsiiit,  had  to  he  left  when  he  drew 
otr.  Till'  dai-kness  of  the  niirht,  as  statetl.  was  intensltied 
hy  the  powder  smoke  and  smoke  of  l)nrnini;Ituil<lini;s.  and 
the  hottom  foy;  which  tilled  the  whole  vallev.  I'nder  snch 
circnmstances  small  ohjects  could  not  he  recovered  in  the 
hurrv  of  a  march. 

The  Americans  ma<le  a  <rreat  tlourish  over  the  capture 
of  Sir  John's  artillerv.  The  orii^inal  report  was  c(»mpara- 
tively  len«j:th_v.  hut  simply  covered  the  little  "<^rassliop[»er," 
iifty-three  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  a  few  necessary  im- 
])lements  and  et[uii>ments  for  a  pii-ce,  the  wliole  suscep- 
tihle  of  transport  on  two  i>uck-saddK's.  "Most  prohahly  the 
hat-horses  were  shot  or  disahled  <»i'  '*  run  otf "  in  tin-  melee. 

It  is  even  more  ditKcult  to  arrive  at  van  Ri-nsselaer's 
nund)ers.  The  lowest  tii;ure  when  at  Schenectady  is  si'vin 
hundred.  This  perhaps  indicated  liis  own  Claverack  (now 
Columhia  Countv)  liriijade.  lie  received  several  acces- 
sions  of  force,  Tryon  an<l  Alhaiiv  Countv  militia;  the  dif- 
ferent  colonels  and  their  re<iiments  are  especially  men- 
tioned, hesides  the  y^/^/.v/-re«rular  connnand— three  or  four 
hundred  (llouirh,  one  hundred  and  tifty) — of  Colonel  Du- 
bois' Levies  raised  Jind  exj>ressly  maintained  for  the  defence 
of  the  New  York  Northern  Frontier;  (^ai>tain  M'Kean's 
eighty  Independent  ^'ol^nteers  ;  sixty  to  one  hundred  In- 
dians, Oneida  wai'riors,  under  Colonel  Louis:  a  detachment 
of  regular  Infantry  under  Colonel  Morgan  Lewis,  who  led 
the  advance  (Stone's  ''Brant,"  II.,  120):  a  company  or 


Ehijaiji  lilt  ut    iKOr    Fn.r's    Mills. 


•li 


dt'tacliiucnt  ot'artilU'rv  and  two  niue-puiiiKk'rs,  and  a  ImkIv 
of  lioi'si'ineii. 

Colonel  St<»ne,  writiii*;  itrcvioiis  to  is.'js,  savs :  '•  Tlif 
comniand  of  (lonoral  van  Itcnssi'lacr  nnndxTcwl  al»ont  \\\'- 
teen  linndi'ed — a  force  in  everv  way  superioi-  to  that  of  tlie 
enemy. "'  It  is  very  prol»al»le  that  he  had  over  two  thou- 
sand, if  not  many  more  than  tiiis.  Stone  adds  ("lirant,"  II., 
lll>):  "  Sir  John's  troojts,  moreover,  were  i .r/iautttetl  l>y 
forced  marches,  active  service,  and  heavy  Unajisacks,  while 
those  of  Van  Kensselaer  were  fresh  in  tlie  field."  Sir 
John's  trooj)s  had  irood  reason  to  he  exhausted.  Besides 
their  march  from  Canaseraii'a,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
they  had  heen  movinir.  tlestroyinij:  and  fiiihtiiii,''  constantly 
for  three  or  foui"  days,  covering-  in  this  exhaustive  work  a 
distaiu'c  of  over  seventy-five  (twenty-six  miles  straii::ht) 
miles  in  the  Mohawk  Valley  alone  (Ilouirh,  X^i'l).  On  the 
very  day  (tf  the  main  em^ai^ement  they  had  wasted  the 
whole  district  of  Stone  Arabia,  destroyed  Jlrown's  com- 
mand  in  a  sjtii-ite<l  attempt  to  hold  the  invaders,  and  actu- 
ally a<lvanced  to  meet  van  Rensselaer  by  the  lii,dit  of  the 
conthii'rations  thev  kindled  as  they  marched  alonij^.  Each 
British  and  Loval  soldier  carried  eiirhtv  rounds  of  annnii- 
iiition,  which,  toj^ether  with  his  heavy  arms,  eciuipments, 
rations  and  plunder,  must  have  weii^hed  one  hnndred 
pounds  and  upwards  per  man.  Van  Rensselaer's  Militia 
com]>laint;d  of  fatij;ue ;  but  >vhen  did  this  sort  of  troo]>s 
ever  march  even  the  shortest  testing  distanci'  without  ijrum- 
blini;? 

The  Americans  fi^mred  out  Sir  John's  loss  at  {>  killed. 


Chi 


I'!iii((i(fi  III)  lit  mill'   yo.i's    Mills, 


7  woimded,  and  51^  iiiissiiiix.  lUs  rcjtoi't  to  (ioiuTal  Tlal- 
(liiiiaiid  states  that  tlir(jn;;lioiit  liis  wlwdc  oxiK'dition  ho 
lost  in  killed,  whites  and  Iiidiaiis,  t> ;  wouiuK'd,  7;  and 
nnssing,  4s,  wiiieli  uinst  liave  inchuh'd  tlie  Mounded  who 
liad  to  he  al)an(h»ned  ;  aii<l  (U'serti<»ns,  ;5 ;  the  last  item  is 
tile  most  i'eiiiarl\al)le  in  its  sii^nificanci'  and  insi<;niHeanco. 
(Hou<i-irs  '*N(.rtheni  Invasion,"  ):}(;.) 

How  the  troops  on  eitlier  side  were  drawn  up  tor  the 
H^lit  ajtpears  to  liavi-  been  pretty  well  setth'd,  tor  there 
was  still  liiriit  eiioiiu'ii  to  nialce  tliis  out,  it"  no  more.  Sir 
Jolni's  line  extended  from  the  river  to  the  orchard  near 
Klock's  house.  His  Rangers — Loyalists — were  on  the 
riirht,  with  their  riijht  on  the  hank  of  the  ^^()llawk.  Hi8 
rcij^ular  troops  stood  in  column  in  the  centre  on  the  Flats. 
Hraufs  Indians  and  the  llesse-IIanaii  liiileiiieii  or  Jailers 
were  on  tlu'  lett,  in  echelon,  in  advance  of  the  rest  about 
one  hundred  and  Hftv  yards,  in  the  orchard.  Van  Kens- 
selaer's  forces  weVe  dl-nosed  :  Colonel  Dubois  with  the 
Levies  [quasi -V{i^^\\\'AYi>)  on  the  riicht,  AVhitus  and  Indians 
eonstitutiui;  the  central  column,  and  the  Albany  INfilitia  on 
the  left.  [Simni's  "  Schoharie  County,"  430.)  Not  asin^de 
witness  sho^ys  where  the  Continentals,  Artillerymen  and 
the  Horsemen  took  ])osition.  As  for  the  two  nine-})ounder 
fieldpieces,  they  were  left  behind,  stuck  in  the  mud.  It 
was  a  tohn-hohu.  The  regulars  on  both  sides  behaved  well, 
as  they  almost  always  do.  With  the  first  shots  the  militia 
began  to  fire — Cuyler's  Regiment,  four  hundred  yards 
away  from  the  enemy — the  rear  rank  ran  over  and  into 
those  in  front,  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three    hundred 


t  J 


/'^n(f(((j<'i,nnt  )ir(i}-   F„.,-\h   MIJIh. 


(-1111 


yards  in  a.lvancH.  (  1!>l>),  tluMi  bn.kc  :  all  was  (...nfiision.  It 
does  not  appc-ai- fl.af  thr  AiucTicai.  In.liar.s  ammiplislKMl 
anvti.ln-  Colonol  I)„l,oi,'  Xcm-  York  Lc-vu-s  nin  .,ut 
Hnnit's  Indians,  and  -..t  in  the  rear. ,f  Si,-  J„l,„'s  line,  and 
tiicn  tlK'iv  was  an  end  cf  tlic   matter.     (Sinun's    -Sd,,,- 

I'aric  (\,nnty,"  42!»-.".o. )     It  had  h.conu.  so  dark  fr va- 

'•K.i.s   cause's   tl.at,  t„  use  a  c.unuK.n  expression,    "a  nuin 
could  not  sec  his  hand  hcforc  his  face." 

Van  Kcnnselaer  had  now  enou-h  to  do  to  keep  the 
"■ajoritv   ofhis   troops  t-.i^otlior,  and   retreated   fron,  one 
and  a  half  to  three  nules,  to  a  cleared  hill,  where  he  was 
eiud>led  to  restore  some  order.     The   stories   of  disorder 
witliin  Sir  .John's  lines,  excej,t  as  re-arde.l  the  Indians,  are 
all  foun<led  on  unrelial.le  ,hita ;  n<,thin.i;  is  known.     When 
lii8  antagonist  fell   hack,  he   waite<l   aj-parentlv  until  the 
moon  rose,  and  then,  or  previously,  tonled  thJriver  (  just 
above  Nathan  rhristie\s_(Sinnns,  4;}0)-and  connnenced 
Ills  retreat,  wl.ieh  he  was, .ermitted  to  continue  unmolested. 
^  It  is  amusino-  to  read  the  renuirks  and  reasoning  of  pa- 
tnotic  imagination  on  this  event.      "By  this  time,"  says 
the  Sexagenary,  -  however,  the  alarm  I'.ad  spread  through 
the   neighhorino;    settlements,   and  a   body  of  militia,  of 
sufficient   force    to   become  the  assailants^    arrlwd,    it  is 
said,^././M/V^  a  .short  ^flManre  of  the  mmn/,  nrar  th.'rira', 
and  Sir  Jolm  Johnson,  h,  mnHnjn.urr,  had  a<'tualh/  lundo 
arranrnnnts  to  .mrr.t,drr:'     [Mark  the  logical  military 
conclusion,    Sir   John    being  ready  to   surrender!]       7%- 
Americaiis,  however,  at  this  laommtfell  hack  a  short  dh- 
f">,r.  [two  or  tliree  miles]  for  tlie  sake  of  occt:pying  a  bet- 


!f  * 


•liv 


hiKjiKJ)  nil      '    mill'    I'n.r^M    MUfs. 


ti  I'  poHttlon  thn'iiHj  t/ii  nnj/if.''  It"  Sir  .luliii  was  scared 
and  williiijr  to  j;ivt'  uj»,  what  iM'od  was  tlu-iv  of  tin-  hravt- 
Americans  talliiiir  l)ack  at  all,  or  sci'kiiii;a  Kcttcr  j»ositioii '. 
All  tlii'V  l>ad  to  do  was  t(»  ij<>  tor\var<l,  disarm  tlic  willing 
prisoners,  and  irsitlier  in  tlie  troiddes.  lie  liad  fou^^dit  a 
Cumberland  CMmrdi  fi^lit  to  clieck  imrsnit,  and  there  was 
no  llnnij)hre\s  present  to  renew  it  and  pi'ess  on  to  an  Ap- 
])oniattox  Court  House,  lie  hatl  accomjdished  his  task; 
he  had  compk'te(l  the  work  of"  destruction  in  the  Schoharie 
and  Mohawk  valleys.  There  was  nothiui;  more  to  he 
wasted.  Col(»nel  Stone  sums  it  uj*  thus  ('•  I'rant,"  IF.. 
l'J4)  :  '•  r>v  this  thinl  and  most  t'ornddahle  irrup.ion  into 
the  IMoluiwk  countiv  during  the  season.  Sir  .lohu  hadcom- 
|»lete(l  the  entii'c  destruction  above  Schenectady — the  prin- 
cipal settlement  ahove  the  Little  Falls  havi'  ^een  sacked 
and  bui'ned  two  years  befoi-e."  French  obs(M'ved  that  these 
incm'sions  left  ''the  remainini;'  citizens  sti'ij»ped  of  almost 
everythinu- e.\ce[>t  the  soil.'** 

*  The  forces  (^tToloiicl  [Sir  .lolin]  Jdliivum,  II  part  of  wliicli  li^d 
croHscd  llic  river  iwar  ('aii^^imawa^fii,  deslniyed  all  liie  Wlii;;  properly, 
not  only  on  the  south,  l)Ut  on  the  north  side,  from  Fort  Hunter  to  the 
(Anthony's  N.  T.  f]l)|  Xose  (some  twenty-three  to  twenty-five  miles), 
an<l  in  several  instances  where  dwellinirs  had  been  Itnrned  l)y  the  In- 
dians under  his  eommand  in  iMay  (1780),  and  temporary  ones  reiinilt, 
they  were  also  consumed.  *  *  *  .\f'ter  Brown  fell,  the  enemy,  scat- 
tered in  small  bodies,  were  to  he  seen  in  every  direction  plundering 
and  hurniULr  the  settlements  in  Stone  Arabia.  In  the  ufternoon  Ciene- 
ral  van  Uensselaer.  after  being  warndy  eensiu'ed  for  his  delay  by  Col. 
Harper  and  several  other  oHleers,  crossed  the  river  at  Kort  Plain,  and 
bejxan  the  pursuit  in  earnest.  The  eiu'iny  were  overtaken  | awaited 
him|  on  the  side  of  the  riv«'r  al)ove  St.  .lohnsville,  near  a  stockatle  and 
blockhouse  at  Klock's,  ju8t  l)elbre  niiiht,  and  a  smart  brush  took  place 
between  the  Hritish  troops  and  the  Americans  under  Col.    Dubois,  in 


I'.nijilijfiin  lit    Hi  III'    J'n.r^M     Millx. 


cIv 


Till'  mi»>t  curious  tliiiiu'  in  this  ('(Hiiit'ctiuii  i.s  flu-  jiart 
|ilav«Ml  l»y  till'  lii'i-v  (tovt'nior  ('liiitnn.  ('oIomcI  St<»nc  cx- 
pi'i'ssly  stated,  in  isM.s,  tliat  lie  m'Uw  with  (u'IutuI  van  Ht'iis- 


wliicli  sfvrnil  1)11  «':i«li  >i(l<'  wcrr  killi-d  (»r  wouiiilrd  .liilinsnn  was 
n)in|i('lli'(|  to  ri-ticat  to  a  ix'iiiiisiilii  ii  'li«'  rivn-,  wlu-n-  lie  ciu  iiiii|i*-*l 
Willi  Ills  iiini  iiiiicli  wearied.  His  si.,,atinn  was  siirli  tliat  he  could 
liavc  hei-ti  taki'ii  with  e:iHc.  Col.  Dubois,  with  ii  Itody  of  Levies,  took 
a  station  al»o\  e  him  to  prevent  his  proceediiiir  up  the  river  ;  Jleii.  van 
IJensseJuer,  with  the  main  ariii.v,  lielow  ;  while  Col.  Harper,  with  the 
Oneida  Indians,  naiiietl  a  poMitinii  on  tin-  nnnthnide  of  the  ricer  nearli/ 
o/tjxiMiti .  I  Why  dill  Ihey  not  irnard  the  ford  hy  whieh  Sir  John  crossed  r 
They  were  afraid  of  him,  and  L'iail  to  let  him  1:0  if  he  only  imulil  t;o 
<iir<ii/.\  The  general  i:u\r  express  orders  that  the  attaek  should  he 
renewed  l>y  the  troops  under  his  own  immediate  cuinmand  at  the  risinij 
of  the  I  full  (between  10  and  11  iv  M.  ?)(!!.  \.  l.T}'))  |  moon,  some  hour 
in  the  iiii^ht.  Instead,  however,  of  encanipiiiir  on  the  i;round  from 
which  the  enemy  had  been  driven,  as  a  brave  otlicer  would  have  done, 
he  fell  liiv'k  ilottii  the  rirer  nnd  eiirdiiijted  riinKK  Mii.Ks  diMtant.  The 
troops  under  Dubois  and  ll.irper  could  hardly  be  restrained  from  com- 
meiieini:  the  attaek  loiii;  before  tlie  moon  arose  ;  bit  when  it  diil.  they 
waited  with  almost  breathless  anxiety  to  hear  the  rattle  of  van  Ken.sso- 
laer's  musketry.  The  enemy,  who  encamped  on  lands  owned  by  the 
late  .ludire  .Iac(»b  (f.  Klock,  spikeil  their  cannon  |tlie  dimimitiv*'  ihr«e- 
pouiuler  liiiisshojiper  was  all  they  had|,  which  was  there  abandoned: 
and.  HDou  tiftrr  the  moon  tij)j>e(ii'ed,  beyaii  to  more  funcurd  ton  fording 
pfd'fjiixt  iifxirr  the  renidem'c  of  Anthitn  Christie,  and  not  far  from  thn'r 
encantjunent.  Many  were  Ihedeiumeialions  made  by  the  men  tinder  Du- 
bois ami  IIari)er  against  Van  Kensselaer,  when  they  found  he  did  not 
lieirin  the  attack,  and  had  ijiven  strict  orders  that  their  <-ommanders 
should  not.  They  openly  sli'jfinatized  the  <;eneral  *  *  *  Imt.when 
sever.il  hours  had  ela|)sed,  and  he  had  not  yet  made  his  apjiearance,  a 
iminnur  of  discontent  pervatled  all.  Harper  and  Dubois  were  com- 
pelled to  see  the  troojis  under  .lohnson  and  Hraut  ford  the  rivj-r.  an(' 
pass  iAX  II h molested,  or  disobey  the  orders  of  their  lonimaiider.  wIk  ,1 
t.iey  could,  unaided,  have  iriven  them  most  advantageous  battle.  Had 
those  brave  colonels,  at  the  niotnent  the  enemy  were  in  the  rirer.  taken 
the  responsibility  of  disolieyiiiir  their  commander,  as  Murphy  had 
done  three  days  before,  and  commenced  the  attack  in  front  and  rear, 
the  conseiiuences  must  have  been  very  fatal  to  the  retreating  army, 

21 


el  VI 


Enijinji  nicnt  nmr   Fo-vh   M'dh. 


schior  a  fc'wliours  Ix'tore  tlic  tiL'lit,  (lined  with  liini  at  Fort 
IMaiii,  and  it'iiiainod  at  the  V .)\\  wlu'ii  van  Kt'iissfhicr 
marched  ont  to  tlie  ti^lit.  In  (\d.  Stone's,  (»r  Ids  son  ami 
nai.  esake's,  "  HonU'r  AVars"  (II.,  li'-J),  fids  statement  is 
repeated,  ('linton,  in  one  ofhis  letters,  dated  .".(itli  <  )clolier, 
does  not  make  the  matter  clear.  He  says  (Iloui^h,  ir>l)  : 
"On  receivini,'  tins  intelli<rence  [the  movements  of  the  Brit- 
ish |  I  immediately  m<ivt'd  up  the  i-ivi-r.  in  hopes  of  hein^ 
ahle  to  ^ain  their  tVont.  vVc."  In  th'scriliini:"  tlu'  i'ni;ai;e- 
ment  he  says,  "the  niicht  canic  on  too  soon  tor  '/.v ,'"  and 
then  afterwards  he  mentions  "the  mornin<r  after  the  action 

I  jirrived  with  the  ndlitia  nndei"  my  immedi;ite command." 
This  does  not  disprove  Stone's  acc(»unt.  Aid-^fajor  Lan- 
sinj;  testified  hefore  the  c(»urt-martial  that  the  (iovern«»r 
to<tk  connnand  on  the  moi'idntjof  the  21st.  It  is  not  likely 
that  (fctvei'nor  Clinton  wonld  have  found  it  jileasunt  to  fall 
iiit(>  the  lunnls  of  Sii-  ,Iohji,  and  Sir  John  would  have  heen 
in  a  decidi'dl;,  disai^reeahle  position  if  the  (iovernor  could 
have  laid  hands  u(»on  him.  There  was  this  ditference, 
however;   Sir  .lohn  was  in  the  fi;;ht  (C))lonel  Dulxtis  wrote 

II  A.  M.,  the  day  after  the  lijrht  (Ilonj^h's    ".Northern   In- 


vasion, 


I 


I 


nsoners  sav  Mr.lo 


•as  woinK 


dtli 


rouirii 


the  thijjh)  which  he  mi^ht  have  av(»ided;  and  the  (lover- 
n(»r  nd<;ht  luive  heen.  Anyone  who  will  considei' the  mat- 
ti'r  dis))assionately  will  perceive  that,  now  that  the  whole 
countrv  was  aroused,  and  all  the  ahle-hodied  males,  rcirti- 


ni)(l  the  (Initli  ot'Cnl.  Hrown  ami  hit*  nwii  promptly  icvciijrcd. — Jarob 
lie<'kfr,  (t  Schoharie  Militiaman.  428-480  .Icplillm  U.  Siinm'H  "  History 
<>r  Scliohiiric  Coinilv,"  1845. 


EniJ<l(f>  nil  nt   liiiir    /''o.r''s    J////.S'. 


1»  • 
VII 


lurs  and  militia,  ('oiici'iitrafiiii;  upon  liiiii.  Sir  .loliii  liu«l 
siiiii»lv  to  ln(»|<  to  the  sat'ctv  <»t'lii.s  coiniiiaiKl.  lie  rrtrcati'il 
liy  a  routf  |»araili'I  to  tlic  Mohawk  liivc  r  and  to  tlic  south 
<^)t' it,  jtasscd  the  ( )n('i(hi  Custle  on  the  cri-ck  of  the  same 
nanu',  the  presi'iit  Itoandary  hotwct'ii  .\fatlison  and  ( )nei(hi 
(\)unti('S,  and  nnuU'  tor  ( 'anaseraira,  whcix'  he  had  left  his 
Itattiiiii.r.  Meanwhile  van  Rensselaer  had  dis[)atehed  an 
express  to  Fort  Schnyler  or  Stanwix,  n(»w  Koine,  orderini( 
Captain  \'rooiiian,  with  a  stroiii;  detaehiiieiit  from  the_i;ar- 
rison,  to  jtiish  on  ahead  as  (piickly  us  possiMe  and  <lestroy 
Sii-  .lohiTs  little  llotilla.  A  deserter  frustrated  Huri^oyne's 
last  and  Itest  ehaiice  to  escajie.  Two  Oneida  Indians,  al- 
ways unreliahle  in  this  war,  revealed  the  a]ii»roach  of  iSir 
.I(»liii.  and  hy  alarminu:  savetl  the  forts  in  the  Sclndiarie 
valley.  And  now  another  such  chance  enahled  Sir  .lohn 
t<»  save  his  boats  and  [uiiiish  tin;  attempt  made  to  <lostroy 
tlii'in.  ( )ne  of  ('ajitain  Vroomun's  men  fell  sick,  or  pro- 
tended  to  fall  sick,  at  ( )neida  (,'sistK(  ( ''  II  ist.  Madison  C'o.," 
<!."►('»,  i^rc. ),  and  was  left  hehind.  Soon  after,  Sir  .I(»hn  ar- 
rived, and  learned  from  tiie  invalid  the  whole  |)lan.  There- 
ui»oii  he  sent  forward  l>rant  and  his  Indians,  with  a  de- 
tachment of  IJutler's  liantrers,  who  came?  ujkhi  V^-oomaii's 
<li'tachment  takinj;  tlu-ir  midday  meal.  2:»d  N«»vein!»er,  I  "SO, 
ami  'Vi^'ohhled"  tli'  whole  [»arty.  Not  a  shot  was  tire(|,  and 
Captain  \'ro<»nian  and  his  n.-  n  wi're  carritMl  off  prisoners 
in  the  \<'\'\  boats  they  were  dis|)atched  t<t  destroy. 

If  any  reader  sui)poses  that  this  invu-^ion  ((f  Sir  .lohn 
.lohnstMrs  was  a  simple  ]>re(latory  expedition,  he  has  ]»etMi 
kept  in  i<jrnorMice  of  the  truth  throui;h  the  idiosyncrasies 


\  I 


•Iviii 


KniJillJ,  iin  id    Uriir    Fo.i's    Mills. 


1    ! 

I' 


of  American  w  rittTs.  It  was  tlu-ir  itiirposi'  fo  nialiiiii  Sir 
.lolm,  and  tlicy  liavf  adniii-ahlv  succcrdcd  in  dniiiix  so.  Sir 
♦lolm  .lolinscjn's  i'Xj)t'<liti()n  was  a  }>art  ota  i-Tan*!  sti-atciric 
j>laii.  Itasi'd  iii>on  tlu'  tojxiijrapliy  of  flu'  counti'v,  winch 
rendered  certain  lines  of  (»j»eration  inevitahle.  Hvi'i-  since 
tlu'  Enirlisli  l>ni!t  a  foi't  at  ( )swe|u;o,  as  a  nienaci'  to  tlic 
French  then  in  possession  of  (\ina«hu  this  poi-t  and  Nia- 
iXai-a  wei'c  hases  for  liostile  movements  aijainst  Camuhi. 
Pitt's  ijreat  jdan,  tic  con<|nest  of  New  France  in  1 7r»!>, 
contemphited  a  triph-  attack  :  down  Lake  Champhiin, 
across  from  Oswego,  ami  np  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  I>m'- 
i;(tyne  campai:;n  in  1777  was  pre<licated  on  the  same  idi-a : 
Ihn'irovne  njf  Champhiin,  St.  Li'irer  from  ( )swe«io  down 
the  ^lohawk,  ai.;'  Howe  np  the  llndson.  ('nnt(»irs  phin 
for  the  fall  of  17>^(»  was  ahnost  identical.  althoni;ii  excrv- 
thini;  hiniii'd  on  tlu'  sm-cess  of  Arnold's  treason  and  his 
delivering  np  Wi'st  Point.  (Clinton  himself  was  to  play 
the  part  Howe  shonld  have  done  and  ascend  tlu'  llndson. 
Colonel  (^nletoii  was  to  inntate  IJnriroyne  on  a  smaller 
scak',  and  move  np  CMnunjtlain  to  attract  attention  in  that 
direction  ;  and  Sir  John  was  to  re|)eat  the  St.  Leiii'r  niove- 
nu'iitof  1777.  and  invade  the  Mohawk  valley.  Ai'iiold's 
failnre  frnstrated  Clinton's  movement.  Carleton  at  hest 
was  to  dem<»nstratc.  hecanse  the  amhi^nity  (or  consistent 
self-seokinj;)  of  Vermont  ren<lered  a  nioi'c  mnnerons  col- 
nmn  nmiecessary.  As  it  was.  he  penetrated  to  the  llnd- 
son, an<l  took  Fort 'Anne.  Haldinnmd's  nervon.sni>ss  ah(»ut 
a  French  attack  npon  Canada  nnide  him  timid  ahont  detach 
injr  a  sntlicient  force  with  Sir.Iohn.     Moreover,  tlu'  Uritish 


Kii<jiuj<  iiii  111  II,  ar   Fo.r'fi    MHIn. 


clix 


rei,MiI{irs  wciv  vcrv  iiiiwilliiii;  to  acroiiipaii.v  this  hold  parti- 
san, whose  c'lu-riry  insuriMl  ciioniious  hardship,  hd)or  and 
suHc'riiiijr  to  liis  followers,  to  which  r('<;ulars,  niore  partiou- 
\i\\'\\  (lonnan  intTft'iiarics,  wt-iv  fspcciallv   averse.      NOn 
Eelkiiiu  iiit'onns  us  (.ftliis,  and  furthermore  tliat  a  terrihh' 
mutiny  canie  very  neai-  hreai<infi-  out    annmi;   the    Ilritisii 
troops  umk'r  ,l(»hnson  in  the  succeeding  .luiu-,  when  Ilal- 
(h'nuind  jiroposed  to  send   Sir  dohii  on  anotlier  exjtedition 
aii-ainst   l*ittshur«r.     The  phm  of  thi-  nnitineers  (von   Kel- 
i<in,«r,  II.,   1!»7)  was  to  fall  upon  the  Uritish  otlicers  in  their 
(pjarters  and  murder  them  all.      The  complot    was  disco- 
vered,   l.ul   it    was  politic  to  liu>li    the    whole   matter   up, 
which  was  accordinuly  done.      Douhtless  there  was   haui;-- 
injj:  or  shootini;  an<l  i»unishment   enouiih.  hut    it   uas    in- 
f1icte<l   (piietly.      These  were  the  reasons  that  the  invasion 
which  was  to  have  heen  headed  hy  Sir  .John  .lolinson  was 
converted  into  a  desti-uctive  raid,  and   this  explains  whv 
Sir  .John  was  so  weal<-lianded  that  he  could  not  disjtose  of 
van  Kensselaer  on    Klock's  Field  as  eoinpletely  as  he  an- 
nihilated ]}rown  in  Stone  Aral>ia. 

Kimdly,  to  divest  Sir  John  dohnsoii's  expedition  of  the 
character  of  a  mere  raid,  it  is  only  necessarv  to  c(»mpare 
s<»nie  dates.  Arnold's  ne^cttiations  with  Sir  Ilenrv  Clin- 
ton came  to  u  head  ahout  the  nuddlc  of  Se|)temher.  It  was 
•not  settled  until  the  2lst-l>L>d  of  that  month.  It  is  not  con- 
sistent with  prohahility  that  llaldinumd  in  Canada  was 
ignorant  that  a  comhined  movemeiW  was  contemplated. 
To  justify  this  conclusion,  von  Kelkinystates  (II.,  l!>:.)tliat 
three  expeditions,    witii  distant   ohjectives,    started  from 


c-lx 


Kn<i<i(j«'n)rni  nror   /'o.i',s   J//7/.> 


(^iU'l)i'C  ulxMit  ^lic  "  middle  <»t"  Si'iitciidx'!","  -tlic  very  tiiiio 
wlicii  Clinton  and  ArnoM  were  {•onclndini;  tlioir  hjirijuin  ;  — 
tlie  first,  under  Sir  .lulm  .lolmson,  into  tlu;  Selioliarif  and 
^foliawk  vallics  ;  tlu-  si'C't)ntl.  nn<l«'r  Major  CarU'ton.  whicli 
took  Forts  Anne  and  rJcoriri'.  towards  Alhanv  ;  and  the 
tldrd,  under  Colonel  Carleton,  reversini:'  tlie  direction  ot" 
the  route  followed  by  Arnold  in  I""."*. 

The  time  neei'ssarv  to  hriui;  Sir  John  int(>  middle  New 
York,  makiui;  dm'  allowances  tor  obstacles,  was  about  C(»- 
incident  with  the  date  caicuiateil  for  the  sui-renderot  West 
}*oint.  Arnold  made  his  escape  on  the  2."ith  of  Septendx'i". 
Andri'  was  arrested  on  the  "J:><l  of  Sejitendier,  and  was  exe- 
cut(Ml  on  the  2d  of  October  followinif.  Major  Carli'ton 
came  ujt  Lake  Cham|tlaiu,  and  aj>|u'ared  before  I'Ort  Anne 
on  the  Ktth  ot'  (  )cfober  ( Ilouuch's  "Northern  Invasion," 
!.,  1:5),  Major  Iloui,ditoji  {//t/i/,  I4<l)  simultaneously  tell 
u|>on  till'  upper  si'ttlements  of  the  Connecticut  N'alley  ;  and 
IVIajor  Afunro,  a  Fioyalist,  startecl  with  the  intention — it  is 
believed — of  surprisin<^  Schenectady  ;  but,  for  reasons  now 
unknown,  stf>pped  short  at  Jiallston,  attacked  this  settle- 
ment on  nndniiiht  of  the  Httli  of  ( )ct(d)er,  and  then  retire<l, 
carry iuiT  oil"  a  nmnber  of  jirisoners.  Such  a  coincidoiico  of 
concentrating^  attacks  fri>m  foui-  or  five  ditfei-i-nt  (juarters 
by  as  many  dillereiit  i-outes  could  not  have  been  the  result 
ofaccidi'Ut.  (Jircumstances  indicate  that  Sir  ilenrv  Clin- 
ton  was  first  to  move  in  force  upon  West  Point,  and  nuike 
bin  self  nuister  of  it  tbi'ouirh  the  treasonalde  disp(jsiti<»nsof 
Arnold.  This  would  have;  riveted  the  attention  of  tliu 
whole  country.     Troo]>s  woubl  have  been  hurried  from  all 


Klif/iKJi  iii>  lit   at  ill'  J'o.r'is   Milh. 


el  XI 


<iuartcr8  towards  tlic  IliirlilaiMls.  and  \\\v  wlmlo  tcrritorv 
around  Alliany  dcnndcd  of  drti'ndt'rN.  Tlm>  it  was  v\- 
jic'cti'd  tliat  Sir  .lolin  would  have  solved  the  proldoni  which 
St.  Iii'<j:i'r  t'aih'd  to  do  in  1777.  .Meanwhile,  the  ("arh-tons, 
certain  <d"the  neutrality  of  Vermont,  whose  hostilities  had 
heen  so  etl'ective  in  1777,  would  have  captured  all  the  posts 
on  the  n|i|n'r  Hudson.  In  this  way  the  ju'reat  plan,  which 
faile<l  in  1777,  was  to  he  acconijilished  in  17'^<'.  Thou- 
saiuls  of  timid  Loyalists  woidd  have  sprtintj  to  arms  tt»  sup- 
p<»rt  Sir  .I(din  and  Clinton,  and  the  severance  (»f  the  Kast- 
ern  from  the  Aliddle  States  coniplete<l.  ami  perfect  com niu- 
muiMcation  estahlished  hetween  .\ew  ^'ork  ami  Afontreal. 
It  would  havi'  taken  hut  vei-y  little  time  ft»r  Clinton  to 
douhle  his  lorce  from  Loyal  I'lements  alon«;  the  whole 
course  of  the  1  ludson,  as  can  he  denn»nstrated  from  re- 
cords, admissions  and  letters  of  the  times.  The  majority 
ot'the  |>eoph' were  tiri'(l  of  the  war.  and  even  Washiuirton 
despaired.  On  the  17th  Octoher,  17>'<>.  (tovornor  Clinton 
wrote  to  (lem  lal  Washington  :  "  This  » htrrju'ixi  of  tin- 
r//r/;<// [Sir  John  .Iohns(»n|  in  j)t'<ihahhf  tin-  tff',rt  of  Ar- 
iio/i/\s  fi'niHnii.'"'  On  the  iJlst  of  the  same  nuuith  (ieneral 
Washini;t«»n,  addi'essiiiir  the  President  of  the  Continental 
(/onp'css,  wrote:  "  It  !s  fjiom/lit^  uml jtrrlmptt  not  o^itli- 
oiif  foiiuildtioii,  tlutt  tlilx  iiirit/'xio/i  irn:-t  hiiti/>>  (hy  Sir.Iohn 
flohnson]  itjto/i  t/i'  .stijfjiositii'ii  tloit  Anio/iffi  t/'ntr/o  rf/ 
Imil  xiici-t'rihil.'^^ 

If  Arnold's  treason  had  not  heen  discov«'re«l  in  time, 
the  name  of  Sir -Ldin  Johnson  nii^^hl  stand  to-day  in  liis- 
tor\   in  the  same  class  heside  that  of  Wolfe,  instea«l  of  he- 


CI  XII 


I'huiinjfUn  til    tU'iir    Fors    Mills. 


iiit;   ltra!i<l('<l   as   it  lias   hccii    \)\  vinilt'iici',  and    worse,    in 
many  cases.  \)\  direct  iiiisre|)resi'iitati<)n. 

"•Success  is  the  test  of  merit,"  said  tlie  uiitortuiiate 
Rehel  General  Albert  Svdiiey  .lolinson — "a  hard  rule,'' 
lie  added.  "  hut  a  just  one."'  It  is  hoth  Indd  and  in.iust, 
and  were  couraire,  merit,  selt-dev(ttion  and  exposure  to  sut- 
terinir  an<l  jteril  the  test,  and  noi'  .si/r/us.s,  there  are  tew 
men  who  would  stand  hin'hei  to-dav  in  military  annals 
than  Sir  .loiix  .Iounson. 


iP  a  n  i  c  s 


Imvc  occiincd,  iKil  only  imidiiii  MiUtiii  iiiid  /rn  f/nturs,  hut  in  |{k<.i  i,.\i! 
Armies,  siilticctc(l,  in  iippcuriiiicf,  to  llie  liiiilicst  stale  of  (lisei|)iine  and 
the  iiinsi  severe  of  military  codes.  Tliese  panics  arc  not  only  incom- 
preliensjlilc,  liut  inliniteiy  more  disiiraeernl  tlian  tlie  worst  whicli  lias 
lieen  altril)iited  to  Militia— even  American  .Militia,  sncli  us  llie 
Ki,u(  k's  Fiki,i>  tdhiiholiH  ill  ITM):  the  Bladcnshiifif  Haces  in  1814; 
and  the  dissohition  ol'  the  I'nion  I'orces  at  Hull  Uuii  I.,  in  IJ^fil. 
Nolhinu',  however,  can  appro.ich  what  took  jdace  in  the  .\ustrian 
army  under  Joseph  II  ,  in  17SH  It  almost  transcends  heliel',  and  it 
ini<;lit  lie  deemed  incrcdihle,  if  it  was  not  recorded  in  the  followini; 
laniruaL;-e  Ity  the  veteran  French  Marshal  Marniont,  Dnkeof  I'aLrnsa.  in 
his  •The  Present  State  of  the  Turkish  Kmpire."  translated  by  l.t.-('ol 
Sir  Frederick  Smith,  K.  II  ,  Uoyal  iJrilish  Kn;;ir.eers,  London,  IHJW, 
pj).  .\x  -xxiv.,  ■•  Introduction." 

"At  lsarans<'lies  (on  the  Tenu's,  .'»()  miles  S.  K.  of  Temcsvar,  just  S. 
of  the  Iron  (iaics  Fass)  we  are  reminded  of  the  lamentatile  cata>lrophe 
[Cust'H  Annals  of  the  Wars,"  I,  i  v.,  •,'!»-;{()  ]  that  liefeil  the  troops  of 
Austria,  in  Seplcmher,  17hs,  near  this])]aee,  in  the  latter  wars  |1T8S-'9(»1 
hctween  that  power  iind  Turkey. 

•Joseph  the  Second  all'onh'd  on  this  occasion  ;i  remarkalile  instance 
of  the  misfortunes  which  a  monarch  may  hrinj;  upon  his  peojilc  hy 
overratiii'j:  his  (pialilications  as  a  military  commander  :  for,  thouirh 
personally  brave,  he  seemed,  when  the  lives  of  otlu  rs  (lc|)(  nded  on  his 
deci>ion,  to  be  dclicient  in  that  moral  couraire  and  presence  of  mind 
which  are  indispensable  in  a  treneral  :  yet  he  evinced  irreat  resolution, 
as  well  as  indefatiirabic  industry  in  conductiii'i- the  civil  affairs  of  the 
stale,  and  umpiestiruiably  possessed  superior  talent.  His  political  acts 
have  been  the  subject  of  much  discussion  :  how  far  they  may  be 
descrvim;  of  praise  or  censure  this  is  not  the  |ilace  to  enquire;  but  it 
is  imi)ossil(le  to  deny  that  the  views  of  this  monaidi  were  directed  lo 
promotiii;!  the  welfare  of  his  counlry.  Hy  movini:-  in  advance  of 
public  (ipinioii.  and  by  promptly  efVectintj  those  changes  in  the  national 
Institutions  which  the  « irciimstances  of  the  times  seemed  lo  demaml, 
he  uipjiid  in  the  bud,  so  far  as  his  own  dominions  were  concerned,  the 
revolutions  th:U  threatened  Austria  us  well  as  the  rest  of  Kurope. 
'I'l — clxiii 


ClMV 


Pnhh 


(•8. 


I 


"  In  I7H9  11788  .'|,  Joseph,  haviii;.'  «'(>n('clc(l  lou'cllicr  SO.OfM)  nun,  for 
tlic  pur|ioH('  of  iittiukinjr  tlu-  Turks,  tslnldislnMl  his  cjimji  near  Kanms 
lies.  'I'hc  Turks  were  in  n  position  opposite  to  tlic  Austrian  iiriny.  and 
so  placed  hs  to  cmi'v  thi'  proviiiff  of  Waliachia.  All  \va«  prcitarcd  for 
the  attark  ;  Hie  irciicrals  were  asscinliled  in  (lie  lent  of  the  Knipcror  to 
receive  their  orders,  and  evcrythiii;:  a|ip<'are(l  to  prouiisc  success  l<» 
tlic  Austrian  arni.>  ;  liut  .lo.scph,  feelinir  a  <lc<;ree  of  disquietude 
respcctiii/jf  the  result,  asked  Marshal  Lascy  if  lie  felt  sun*  of  heating 
the  enemy.  The  ^larshal  replied,  as  any  scnsilile  |vl  man  would  have 
dc>iie,  under  similar  circumstances,  that  he  Imped  for  victory,  hut  that 
he  could  not  al)S(dutely  guarantee  it.  I'liliappily  this  answer  so  tlis- 
coiiraucd  Joseph  |  where  were  his  own  n-sohition  and  brains 'I  that 
he  iniinediately  aliandnncd  the  intention  of  altackiiii:  the  Turks,  and 
resolved  to  retire  Iiehiiid  the  Tcmes. 

"The  plan  of  retreat  was  arranjfcd.  and  the  army  was  formed  in 
parallel  columns,  tlic  infantry  licini:  placed  in  the  centre,  the  <av.ilry 
on  the  Hanks,  and  the  liairirairc  in  the  intervals.  The  Austriaiis  com- 
menced their  inarch  at  midnight,  but  shortly  aftirwards  Marshal 
Lascy,  disroverinir  that  the  order  had  not  been  issued  fin-  ;\  ithdrawinir 
the  |d(|Uets  of  the  left  winir.  supplied  the  omission,  and  suddenly 
halted  the  main  body  to  wait  for  these  detachment-  |Somethini^ 
similar  occurred  on  the  niirhl  of  l."»ili  December.  18(t'i,  when  the  left 
wiuj:  of  the  Tniou  army  withdrew  from  Ik  l.ni  the  Uebels,  after  the 
disastrous  ''liliirc  of  the  attack  of  the  liUh.  prccediii!.'.  1  The  word  of 
<'onmiand,  t(»  "halt,'  was  :;iven  and  repeated  in  the  usiiiil  manner ;  bm, 
beini:  mistaken  for  the  word  'Allah.'  whi(h  the  Turks  are  in  the  habit 
of  shoutinirwlu'n  about  to  fall  upon  their  cncndes.  many  of  the  Austrian 
troops  believed  thai  they  were  attacked.  Thi.s  was  the  ease  with  the  dri 
versof  the  tund)rils.  who,  seized  with  panic,  put  their  horses  into  a  troi, 
in  the  hope  of  escapini;.  The  infantry,  supposini;  the  noise  made  by 
these  rarriaires  to  be  caused  by  the  charire  of  the  encuiy,  ennuiicnced 
lirinir  in  all  directions.  The  havoc  they  thus  created  in  their  own 
ranks  was  sr»  irrcat.  that  no  less  than  lO.tXtlt  men  are  said  to  have  been 
killed  or  woun<led  durinir  the  darkm-ss  of  the  niirht.  At  dayli^dit  the 
mistake  was  discovered,  and  'he  Austrian  army  then  retreated  to  the 
posit i<tn  the  Kmperor  had  intended  to  take  up  behind  the  Tcmes.  If. 
instead  of  jfivinff  w.'y  to  his  alarm.  Joseph  had  attacked  the  enemy,  it 
is  probable  that  he  wouI<l  ha\e  obtained  possession  of  Wallachia  with- 
out losinu;  more  than  iJ.JOO  or  l.Oi'd  men.  As  it  wa>,  lie  not  only  lost 
KI.IKKt  by  the  tlisaster  above  mentioned,  and  2t).<KK(  by  sickness,  wliieh 
was  the  conse<juenee  of  a  pndonu'cd  occupation  of  an  unliealthy  tract 
of  rountry.  but  he  raised  the  courajre  of  tin-  Turks,  and  thereby 
deprived  his  own  troops  of  the  C(U»fidence  lliey  had  previously  reposed 
both  in  him  and  in  themselve.-;." 


g'Huuoi. 


The  )H'i'(viliiin'  pui^cs  arc  the  result  of  a  pi'oiiiisc,  iiiadu 
in  liasto  and  iH'|K'ntt'W  at  leisure;  hut  kept  to  the  h'ttei-,  as 
man's  word  of  honor  shonhl  he,  at  whatever  cost  it  may  he 
to  liim.  IielK'ction  soon  led  t<i  re<ii'et  that  tlie  jtU'dufe  hati 
ever  heen  t;i\en  ;  hecanse,  as  a  friend  wiselv  ohsei'ved, 
"  the  peopU'  of  this  country  have  sucked  in  tictioii  as  fact 
with  their  motliers'  milk,  and  no  amount  ot'  I'cason  could 
reversi'  the  vei'dict  of  success,  however  ohtained."  No 
j)hil(tsopher  helieves  in  the  judgment  of  the  people,  so 
styled —the  people,  as  usually  underst(K(d,  ai'c  the  sim])le 
dupi's  and  pack  and  l>rey  of  the  hold  and  the  desi^nini^, 
who  poHs<'ss  the  Hcrpent  ^uile  of  pandering  to  their  lusts 
and  to  tlieir  passiojis.  Tlu-re  is  a  I'Koim.k,  invisihle  hut 
intluential,  running  thriMiirh  every  p<u'tion  of  the  hody  jioli- 
tic,  like  tlie  mysterious  symj)uthetic  nerve  (»n  which  vitali/a- 
tion  depends,  'i'his  people  is  that  portion  of  the  community 
referred  to  when  Klijah  sai<l,  ••  I,  even  1  only,  am  left ;''  and 
God  answered  that  he  had  reserved  to  iiimself  seven  thou- 
sand wlio  had  not  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal  nor  worshi|»|)ed 
him.  Unfortumitely  this  minority  entertain  opinions  wliieh, 
for  their  own  preservation,  discretion  teaches  them  to  ki.'cp 
dxv 


clxvi 


L "  Eiti'ol. 


out  of  siijlit  as  iinicli  as  possible.  Tlicy  arc  like  the  .lews 
of  tlie  ^Middle  Aues,  who  had  to  coiiceal  their  riches, 
h'st  tlie  j>eo|)U',  so  called,  Itv  violence  then,  l»_v  votes  now, 
sliouht  "{TO  for  them,"  make  a  i-aid  npon  theii'<lwellin;;s,  and 
"  rahlile  "  them.  ( )nce  in  a  while  a  huld  ex|»onent  <>f  the 
ideas  of  the  minority  comes  forward,  like  an  Arnold  of 
Bri'scia.  a  Savonarola,  a  llnss,  a  Zwini^li  or  a  Lnther,  and 
iinuiijurates  a  moral  revolntictn,  ijenerally  with  fatal  and 
terrilde  eili'cl  to  himself:  for  instance,  the  Hi'st  three  were 
hnrnecl  at  the  stake,  and  Zwinuli  was  ninrdere(|  on  the 
hattletield.  Lather,  thanks  to  the  iBifis  of  l*rovidence, 
die«l  a  natni-al  death,  hnt  livi'd  loni;'  enoiiirh  to  teel  the 
(lisijnst  that  invades  the  bosom  of  t'verv  able  and  trne  man 
who  reaches  the  i>eriod  when  the  decavof  ihi'  bodilvfacnl- 
ties — that  is,  of  the  resistivi'  and  recnperative  powers — be- 
<;ins  to  qnench  the  h(»[)es  and  illnsions  which,  with  few 
rarely  continne  to  exist  Mdien  the  downwaid  road  becomes 
rouixh  and  steep.  The  peo[»le,  so  styled,  the  inasst^s,  are 
to-(hiy  wlnit  they  were  a  tlionsand,  yes  thonsands  of  years 
air«».  the  obtnse  instrunuints  of  wicked  minds.  "'Piuu  in. 
ft  ('h'cennt's^''  (Food  and  I'leasnre)  was  and  is  and  ever 
will  be  tlieir  wat(;hwor<l  :  tlii'ii-  bellies  and  their  e\'es  ; 
in  (jnr  <hiys,  their  ears.  xVll  i^reat  men  see  throuijh  the 
ntter  emptiness  of  ])o|tnlar  applanse,  althouirh  few,  like 
William  I  If.,  have  the  cold,  caustic  cynicism  to  exjn'ess 
tlie  conviction  pnl»licly.  When  the  mob  received  hiiu 
with  cheers,  he  simply  remarked,  the  same  class  that 
cries  "  IFosanna"  to-day  will  sliont  '' (Crucify  him"  to- 
morrow.     r>old,   bad   men,   witli   serpents'    intellects  and 


I. '  I'.iirn!. 


•l.w  ii 


oily  toiiuiu's  or  vcrsiitilc  jicns,   like  our  successful  politi- 
ciuiis  or  popular  liivoritcs  u['  the  press,  coiMluct   or  cxcifo 
tiic   "iiiiiiiv   IicjuKmI"   at   tiu'ir  pleasure.     The   venlict  of 
the  peopk',  -hv  a  vast  majority,"   recalls  tlu-  auecdole  of 
the   luiueiited    wii,    Arthur   (iiluian,  n-ceiitly  (lecease<l,    in 
re<rar(l  to  Colom-i  ^CH,  of  ^i-llvilh-,  a  iiieinDer  (.f  one  of 
the    southwestern    leoislatures.      The    Vellvilk.   l!ank  ha«l 
irone  U])  suddenly,  and   the  WwuU   jiad   (lisai)peared   under 
the   receivershij*   of  the   said    colonel.      F(»r  this  the  Ilon- 
orahle  Kuriiel  "\'ell   was  called   upon   for  an    explanation. 
In  a  speech,  as  involved  as  one  of  the  calculated  deceptive 
utterances  of  Cromwell,  tin-  colonel  furnished  no   elue  to 
the  diwappearance  of  the  assets  of  the    I>ank,   or  the   par- 
ticular pockets  into  which  they  had  eventually  found  their 
windin<?way;   hut  he  covered   his   tracks,    and   awakem-d 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  Lefjisluture  and  crowded  <;alleries  hv 
a  hifalutin  (hii;li-tor-newton)  glorification  of  tlie  Stars  and 
Stripes  ''  that  was  kulkerlated  to  stir  the  heart  of  the  most 
fastidious."     Pronounce  an  oration  or  write  a  hook  or  ar- 
ticle tliiniderous  with  citations  of  the  "  patriot  sires ;"  shout 
out  or  italicize   ^'Bunker  Hill!   Old   Put!   Valley  For<;e ! 
Prfital  P>utchers!  Washiu<;ton,  the  Father  of  his  (-ountrv! 
Traitor  Arnold!"  and  ''the  ( 'apt(.rs  of  Andre,"  at  judicious 
intervals;  ahuse  "the  mother  country."  muiti])ly  t!;e  vir- 
tues wiiich  do  not  e.xist  in  the  audience,  and  a  triumph  inevi- 
tably must  ensue.      EixUavor  honestly  to  tell  the  i)lain  un- 
varnished truth,  and  liold  the  mirror  uj)  to  nature,  and  the 
result  is  either  tlie  silence  of  contemptuous  miiiht  or  incon- 
scipient  stu])idity,  or  a  storm  such  as  furnisiies  the  speaker 


■,'ii^ 


.% 


%^.^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4 


/ 


0 


i^  /sr^ 


1.0     If"-  IM 

^^^^=      156    122     mil  o  o 


I.I 


11.25 


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it  lis  lllllio 


1= 

1.4    111111.6 


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<? 


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o 


7 


>>    .^^^'^ 


/ 


>> 


^^. 


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''^/Z 


&. 


Q- 


►> 


clxviii 


Z'/i; 


nvoi. 


or  writer  with  a  full  realization  of  the  vulgar  but  expressive 
proverb  of  ''  having  as  good  a  chance  as  a  specimen  of  the 
feline  genus  without  claws  in  the  dominion  of  Abaddon." 


:?'<r 


L 


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.  /    /   ''1"" 

Vid/N  '/rytni .  hi/  (  '/,t/4f)<'Ji>sty>/jSauthiL'r.Efii/'.   /,<■„,>,•>,   K^.i.  ,!»■,,  /^  / 

J  ^-^ — ''fv'i/' 


y^i    /'IvKirt  (l(.  la  Giil.MU 


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